Kinda glossed over the “fled Prussia and then also France under accusations of homosexual and pedophilic activities” didn’t ya?
His career in Prussia was tanked over Prussia downsizing its army after a series of successful wars.
An anonymous accusation of pedophilia (and an accusation that was imprecise in its wording by modern standards, in the spirit of the 18th century ‘enjoying’ the same punishment for sodomy between adult men as an adult man molesting a boy) against a man who was all-but-openly gay tanked his reputation and chance of employment in Baden, which caused him to return to France.
The French court was actively calling for the investigation when Franklin ferried him away. The dude spent the rest of his life living with men who were a good deal younger than him.
The French court was actively calling for the investigation when Franklin ferried him away.
I am unaware of any hostile involvement of the French court, considering that it was exactly Von Steuben’s positive connections at the French court which made him go to France in the first place.
The dude spent the rest of his life living with men who were a good deal younger than him.
Yeah, that’s different from accusations of pedophilia.
His career in Prussia was tanked over Prussia downsizing its army after a series of successful wars.
An anonymous accusation of pedophilia (and an accusation that was imprecise in its wording by modern standards, in the spirit of the 18th century ‘enjoying’ the same punishment for sodomy between adult men as an adult man molesting a boy) against a man who was all-but-openly gay tanked his reputation and chance of employment in Baden, which caused him to return to France.
He didn’t flee France.
The French court was actively calling for the investigation when Franklin ferried him away. The dude spent the rest of his life living with men who were a good deal younger than him.
I am unaware of any hostile involvement of the French court, considering that it was exactly Von Steuben’s positive connections at the French court which made him go to France in the first place.
Yeah, that’s different from accusations of pedophilia.