Incident precipitated by the French diplomat Citizen Edmond C. Genêt (17631834), who was sent to the U.S. in 1793 by the French government to gain support for France's war with Britain and Spain.
In South Carolina Genêt organized privateers to prey on British commerce and expeditions to attack Spanish and British territories. Pres. George Washington considered Genêt's activities a violation of U.S. neutrality and demanded his recall. Facing possible death at the hands of the new regime in France, he was allowed to remain in the U.S.