page_title: Russia and the American Revolution
section_title: Francis Dana's mission
hierarchical_section_title: Russia and the American Revolution / Russian diplomacy during the war / Francis Dana's mission
caption_attribution_description: English: Francis Dana
context_page_description: The Russian Empire's role in the American Revolutionary War was part of a global conflict of colonial supremacy between the Thirteen Colonies and the Kingdom of Great Britain. Prior to the onset of the war, the Russian Empire had already begun exploration along North America's west coast; and, the year following the war's conclusion, the Eurasian empire established its first colony in Alaska. Although the Russian Empire did not directly send troops or supplies to the colonies or British Empire during the war, it responded to the Declaration of Independence, played a role in international diplomacy, and contributed to the lasting legacy of the American Revolution abroad.
context_section_description: Francis Dana served as the United States Ambassador to Russia from December 19, 1780 until September 1783.  His original mission was to "sign in St. Petersburg the convention about the adherence of the United States to the armed neutrality, and to reach an agreement about a treaty concerning friendship and trade."
  Dana experienced some difficulties during his trip.  First off, the Russian Empire had not yet recognized the United States as a nation, and, secondly, the Russians could not formally accept a representative from a state which they had not yet acknowledged.  The American diplomat fought against these presumptions and put forth, in a long memorandum to the Russian imperial court, that America's nationhood stemmed from the Declaration of Independence and not from a peace treaty with Great Britain.  However, "The argumentation of Francis Dana, based on the principles of popular sovereignty, could not, it goes without saying, make a special impression (on the contrary, only a negative one) on the Tsarist Government."  Due to these hindrances to the success of his mission, Robert Livingston moved that the Continental Congress recall Dana from St. Petersburg. Ironically, Dana left Russia the day after the signing of the peace treaty between the United States and Britain.  Unfortunately for Francis Dana, he spent years in the Russian courts only to see his mission uncompleted.
  Many historians have overlooked the broader political occurrences at the time of Dana's mission.  Several believe Catherine II's refusal to acknowledge the American diplomat rooted itself in Russia's desire to avoid conflict with Great Britain.  However, Catherine the Great used her denial of Dana as a leverage point in her annexation of Crimea.  She voiced to her fellow heads of state that she remained neutral during their conflicts, so they should not meddle with her political affairs.  Perhaps this politicking on the part of Catherine II also played a role in the failure of Dana's quest.
caption: Francis Dana
exif: {}