Despite their status as colonial subjects of the King, some 18th century
Americans already had a great deal of experience negotiating with ministers
at the highest levels of the British Government.
Benjamin Franklin
In 1757, Benjamin
Franklin began his first term as Pennsylvania’s colonial agent in
London. By the end of his second term (1765-75), Franklin also represented
Massachusetts, Georgia, and New Jersey. Other distinguished Americans, such
as Arthur Lee, served in a similar capacity.
Franklin secretly negotiated with the British in 1774 to prevent the outbreak of war. Although he was unsuccessful, he gained valuable diplomatic skills. When war became inevitable, a nucleus of Americans, including Franklin, was ready to assume the tremendously important task of representing the breakaway nation in the courts of Europe.