Silas Deane

Silas Deane was an American diplomat at the time of the Revolutionary War. He was set to France on behalf of the American colonies to negotiate French support against the British. Along with his secretary, Edward Bancroft, Deane used the position to increase his personal wealth. He was discredited and essentially exiled to England, where he lived in near poverty supported by his friends, such as Bancroft. After several years, Deane decided to return to America and received assistance paying for the journey from Bancroft. On the sea voyage back to America, Deane suddenly fell ill and died, possibly poisoned by Bancroft, who may have feared Deane would reveal that Bancroft had been a double agent for the British and Americans during the war.

Th authors use Deane's story as an example of a historical mystery that can be partially unraveled using various historical techniques such as...