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The Secret of St. Andrews podcast is for golf enthusiasts, history buffs and patriots.
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Episode 15, Part 3, The French Connection. America would not have won its independence without the financial and military support of France, and this support was secured by Ben Franklin. Franklin arrived in France late in 1776 with little first hand knowledge of French politics and customs. What he knew about the French was largely due to his Scottish alliance formed in St.
Andrews. The Scots had many historical ties to the French, including their Catholic faith, Jacobite interests, and Masonic practices. They were also trading partners, with many Scottish immigrants living in France and serving in the French military. For centuries, the Scots had nurtured relationships with France, and this alliance survived through wars, competing monarchies, various coups, and the religious reformation.
The Scots developed the skill of back channel diplomacy with their French counterparts that served their national interests and these skills would prove invaluable to Franklin. In 1747, the French monarchy granted Scotland a monopoly over their tobacco imports and this trade agreement continued during the Seven Year War.
Even though France and Great Britain were enemies, economic pragmatism prevailed, the tobacco trade continued, and Scottish merchant ships were allowed to sail from Glasgow to ports in France and North America. The Scots had a well placed informant in France, and they used their merchant ships to smuggle his correspondence across the English Channel.
Like news from the American colonies, the more sensitive updates were passed through a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. The famous Scottish golfer named John Ratri rat's informant in France, like his informant in North America was a former Jacobite rebel by the name of David Weems Weems, also known as Lord.
Elko was the oldest son of the Honorable James Weems and brother to Francis Weems Charters and James Weems. His father and brothers were founding members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and one of the more influential families in St. Andrews. David Weems had been a colonel in the Jacobite army commanding an elite cavalry unit and he fought in the Battle of Culloden with both Hugh Mercer and John Rattray.
Weems and his troops were the personal protectors of Bonnie Prince Charlie but Weems actually despised the prince. He saw him as a weak and self serving leader and blamed Stuart for the Jacobite defeat. Weems even called the prince a coward as he fled the battlefield. To make matters worse, in order to support the rebellion, Weems had loaned Prince Charlie a substantial amount of money, never to be repaid.
Weems escaped capture, but he was a wanted man by the British and fled to France. The British confiscated his wealth and land and stripped him of his titles. In spite of numerous attempts by his family to have this attainer removed, the government would not yield and Weems never returned to Scotland.
Weems became a colonel in the French military and commanded a regiment of mostly Scottish immigrants and fellow Jacobites that were based in Dunkirk. He was a respected military leader and a valued addition to the French military. In fact, he would later be awarded one of France's highest military honours, the Order of Military Merit.
Weems was a highly regarded Freemason and leveraged his Masonic ties to gain influence, gather information and communicate discreetly with other Jacobites. He used this network to spy on Stuart and undermine his attempts to mount another rebellion. He tracked the prince's failing health, his growing alcohol abuse, and his reckless behavior with various mistresses, and provided updates to Rattray.
Weems used his military influence and connections against Prince Charlie. He knew of the prince's failed attempts to meet with the French king, and his hopes of gaining France's support for another Jacobite invasion. Early in 1759, the Prince met with the French Foreign Minister to share his invasion plans, but Weems had already made it clear that he, nor his men, had any faith in the Prince.
Weems reported to Rattray with great satisfaction that the Prince's plan was denied. Information Weems provided on the Prince and his various misadventures was perfectly suited to share with Franklin. It showed that the Scots had a well placed source in France and provided Franklin information that would aid his diplomatic efforts back in London.
In the years to come, Franklin relied on the Scots for intelligence gathered in France. And as the Revolutionary War approached, he relied on their long standing relationships and knowledge of French political and military customs to advance his cause. This is but one of the secrets that began with Franklin's trip to St.
Andrews, and this information was secretly passed between the golfers in Edinburgh and St. Andrews. Up next, how Scottish golfers engaged in counter espionage.