Remembering Revolutionary War Hero Comte de Grasse
- Rebecca Drew
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
This summertime post is inspired by Provence and its Revolutionary War hero, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, also known as Comte de Grasse. While many people have heard of General LaFayette's role in the Revolution of the United States, not as many people know about the role of de Grasse, who became lieutenant-general of the Navy for France. His actions led to the successful siege of Yorktown in 1781, cementing victory for the United States. He even appeared on a US stamp in 1931 in honor of his contribution.
Comte de Grasse appeared on my radar when I found an 18th Century envelope postmarked with the word, "Grasse." You can see the letter featured in the photo, nestled amongst fig leaves in honor of the fig industry of France (note this photo was taken in southern Virginia, not southern France). Immediately, I envisioned lovely fields of flowers gently swaying in the breeze, brightened by that special sunshine only found in Provence. The anticipation was rising as I examined the partial wax seal. This was a moment to savor, much like the scents of Provence such as lavender, jasmine, and roses.
Finally, I opened the letter, hoping to read about some long lost secrets of the fragrance industry in Grasse, or some account of the latest flower harvest. The penmanship on the letter was also lovely but difficult to read. It appeared to be addressed to the Comte de Grasse, which sent me on a journey to find out that he was a Revolutionary war hero in my own country. However, after getting a professional translation of the contents, which was written in a Provençal dialect from centuries ago, I learned the war hero was not the addressee of the letter. It was addressed to his nephew, because he held the Comte title at the time the letter was written.
The topics of the letter ranged from how to handle a missing criminal to mill workers complaining about working conditions. It was interesting to learn about the importance of the olive tree industry at that time. Alas, there was no mention of flowers, just snow, believe it or not. Even though the letter was not addressed to the other Comte de Grasse, I never would have known about the effect of his actions that eventually led to the liberty of the United States.
While leaders such as Marquis de Lafayette get well-deserved credit for their roles in the United States' War for Independence, let's be sure to remember Comte de Grasse, too. Merci, Monsieur, merci.
