Louis Littlepage
Encyclopedia
Louis Littlepage or Lewis Littlepage (1762-1802) was an American diplomat in service of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski.
or New Kent County, Virginia
(accounts vary) as son of a plantation owner, Colonel James Littlepage.
Lewis Littlepage's father, James Littlepage, was the first Clerk of Louisa County
, and was elected to the House of Burgesses of Hanover in 1764. Lewis was the elder of two children of his father's second marriage, about 1760, to Elizabeth Lewis. After his father's death, his mother married secondly Major Lewis Holladay, of Spotsylvania County
. This resulted in Littlepage having a half-brother, Waller Holladay (1776-1860), the father of U. S. Representative
Alexander Holladay
(1811–1877).
After studies in Williamsburg, Virginia
, Littlepage chose to travel to Europe
. First, he travelled to Spain
, with the help of his relative, the American diplomat John Jay
. He witnessed the battle of Minorca
in 1781 as a volunteer aide to the Duc de Crillon, and the Great Siege of Gibraltar
, during which he visited the Spanish fleet and made a sketch, well received at the Spanish court. After a dispute with Jay over finances, Littlepage left for Paris
, and from there, with the Prince of Nassau, he traveled to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, where he visited the Sejm
session that took place in Grodno in 1784.
of the Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, and accepted it. Littlepage travelled back to the United States
, to ensure that the United States Congress
would not revoke his United States citizenship for service to the government of another nation. While in the United States, he met with George Washington
. He advanced quickly, becoming a royal secretary, and became one of king's favorites, receiving the post of chamberlain
in 1786. In 1787 he headed a diplomatic mission to the Russian Empire
to Kiev
, and later that year, he headed an unsuccessful mission to France, with the goal of forging an alliance between Poland, France, Austria, and England. In the aftermath of this mission, Poniatowski made Littlepage his representative in France, replacing the ailing count Monnet. After about a year, Littlepage left France (where he met Thomas Jefferson
), and observed the Russo-Turkish War. By 1798 he returned to Polish capital, Warsaw
, and was sent to Italy and then, Spain (Madrid
). In 1790 he received the Order of Saint Stanislaw. In 1791, Littlepage was back in Warsaw, and carried out various diplomatic missions for the Patriotic Party
(a group that supported the Constitution of May 3, 1791
).
, in 1793, king Poniatowski wrote a letter to Littlepage, apologizing for being unable to present him with a proper pension (at that time, Poniatowski and the Polish treasury were both in debt); Poniatowski promised him a sum of 2,000 ducat
s, with a note that he was unable to pay them to him, but he authorized Littlepage to seek compensation even after Poniatowski's death. At that point, Littlepage started working for the Russians, as Russian ambassador to Poland, Jacob Sievers
, promised to compensate him in return for information from the royal court.
For his service to the Russians, the Supreme National Council
(central civil government of Poland loyal to the Kościuszko Insurrection) declared him a traitor. Littlepage protested that, exchanged correspondense with Tadeusz Kosciuszko
, and finally made a public donation to the insurgent's treasury; this cooled his relations with the Russians.
, Littlepage was to return to the United States, carrying a letter from king Poniatowski to George Washington. Littlepage, however, remained in Poland till 1800, and Europe till 1801. According to his own account, he wanted to accompany Poniatowski on his exile into Russia, but was prevented from doing so by the order of Russian Empress, Catherine II
; then he remained in Poland until the death of Poniatowski in 1798. He returned to the United States in late 1801, and died at Fredericksburg, Virginia
on 19 July 1802.
Youth
Littlepage was born on December 19, 1762, in Hanover County, VirginiaHanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
or New Kent County, Virginia
New Kent County, Virginia
At the 2000 census, there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile . There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
(accounts vary) as son of a plantation owner, Colonel James Littlepage.
Lewis Littlepage's father, James Littlepage, was the first Clerk of Louisa County
Louisa County, Virginia
Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
, and was elected to the House of Burgesses of Hanover in 1764. Lewis was the elder of two children of his father's second marriage, about 1760, to Elizabeth Lewis. After his father's death, his mother married secondly Major Lewis Holladay, of Spotsylvania County
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
. This resulted in Littlepage having a half-brother, Waller Holladay (1776-1860), the father of U. S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Alexander Holladay
Alexander Holladay
Alexander Richmond Holladay was a 19th century politician and lawyer from Virginia.-Early life and background:...
(1811–1877).
After studies in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, Littlepage chose to travel to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. First, he travelled to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, with the help of his relative, the American diplomat John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
. He witnessed the battle of Minorca
Battle of Minorca
The Battle of Minorca was a naval battle between French and British fleets. It was the opening sea battle of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre. Shortly after Great Britain declared war on the House of Bourbon, their squadrons met off the Mediterranean island of Minorca. The fight...
in 1781 as a volunteer aide to the Duc de Crillon, and the Great Siege of Gibraltar
Great Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
, during which he visited the Spanish fleet and made a sketch, well received at the Spanish court. After a dispute with Jay over finances, Littlepage left for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and from there, with the Prince of Nassau, he traveled to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, where he visited the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
session that took place in Grodno in 1784.
Service to the Polish king
He received an offer to join the royal courtRoyal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
of the Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, and accepted it. Littlepage travelled back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to ensure that the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
would not revoke his United States citizenship for service to the government of another nation. While in the United States, he met with George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. He advanced quickly, becoming a royal secretary, and became one of king's favorites, receiving the post of chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
in 1786. In 1787 he headed a diplomatic mission to the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, and later that year, he headed an unsuccessful mission to France, with the goal of forging an alliance between Poland, France, Austria, and England. In the aftermath of this mission, Poniatowski made Littlepage his representative in France, replacing the ailing count Monnet. After about a year, Littlepage left France (where he met Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
), and observed the Russo-Turkish War. By 1798 he returned to Polish capital, Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, and was sent to Italy and then, Spain (Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
). In 1790 he received the Order of Saint Stanislaw. In 1791, Littlepage was back in Warsaw, and carried out various diplomatic missions for the Patriotic Party
Patriotic Party
The Patriotic Party , also known as the Patriot Party or, in English, as the Reform Party, was a political movement in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the period of the Four-Year Sejm of 1788–92, whose chief achievement was the Constitution of 3 May 1791...
(a group that supported the Constitution of May 3, 1791
Constitution of May 3, 1791
The Constitution of May 3, 1791 was adopted as a "Government Act" on that date by the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Historian Norman Davies calls it "the first constitution of its type in Europe"; other scholars also refer to it as the world's second oldest constitution...
).
Collaboration with the Russians
At the time of the Second Partition of PolandSecond Partition of Poland
The 1793 Second Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the second of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The second partition occurred in the aftermath of the War in Defense of the Constitution and the Targowica Confederation of 1792...
, in 1793, king Poniatowski wrote a letter to Littlepage, apologizing for being unable to present him with a proper pension (at that time, Poniatowski and the Polish treasury were both in debt); Poniatowski promised him a sum of 2,000 ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s, with a note that he was unable to pay them to him, but he authorized Littlepage to seek compensation even after Poniatowski's death. At that point, Littlepage started working for the Russians, as Russian ambassador to Poland, Jacob Sievers
Jacob Sievers
Count Jacob Sievers was a Russian statesman and a reformer of the empire....
, promised to compensate him in return for information from the royal court.
For his service to the Russians, the Supreme National Council
Supreme National Council
Supreme National Council was the central civil government of Poland loyal to the Kościuszko Insurrection. Created by Kościuszko on 10 May 1794 in Połaniec camp, it had 8 councillors and 32 deputies....
(central civil government of Poland loyal to the Kościuszko Insurrection) declared him a traitor. Littlepage protested that, exchanged correspondense with Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
, and finally made a public donation to the insurgent's treasury; this cooled his relations with the Russians.
Final years
In 1795, the year of the third and final partition of PolandThird Partition of Poland
The Third Partition of Poland or Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1795 as the third and last of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Background:...
, Littlepage was to return to the United States, carrying a letter from king Poniatowski to George Washington. Littlepage, however, remained in Poland till 1800, and Europe till 1801. According to his own account, he wanted to accompany Poniatowski on his exile into Russia, but was prevented from doing so by the order of Russian Empress, Catherine II
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
; then he remained in Poland until the death of Poniatowski in 1798. He returned to the United States in late 1801, and died at Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
on 19 July 1802.
Further reading
- Nell Holladay Boand, Lewis Littlepage, Whittet & Shepperson, 1970
- Curtis Carroll Davis, The king's chevalier: a biography of Lewis Littlepage, Bobbs-Merrill, 1961
- Mieczyslaw Haiman, Polacy wsrod pionierow Ameryki...