Edward Bancroft - Spying For Franklin

Spying For Franklin

Bancroft was employed to gather information from British political and military sources for Franklin. It's not clear whether Bancroft continued spying after Franklin left London in 1774. Most agree, nonetheless, that Bancroft maintained his position as an agent for the colonies. When the Committee of Secret Correspondence sent Silas Deane (Bancroft's former teacher) to France in 1776, Franklin wrote Deane telling him to contact Bancroft. This suggests that Franklin believed that Bancroft would be a source of useful information for Deane.

Deane arrived in France on 7 June 1776; the next day he wrote Bancroft, asking him to come to Paris. In the letter, Deane said they would discuss procuring goods for trading with the Indians, and enclosed thirty pounds (a generous amount) for travel expenses. Bancroft met with Deane on 8 June, and learned that Deane's purpose in France was to win French aid for the Americans against Britain. While Bancroft declined the invitation to attend negotiations, he did serve as Deane's assistant and interpreter. Deane's negotiations resulted in France sending some supplies to the Americans.

Deane told Bancroft that American leaders hoped to embroil Britain in a war against other foes (specifically, an alliance of France and Prussia), which they hoped would distract Britain. Though Deane and other Americans thought France would form the alliance, this ploy came to nothing. But it greatly troubled Bancroft. On 26 July 1776, Bancroft returned to London. Before leaving France, he assured Deane that he would spy for the colonies in Britain.