André-Nicolas Levasseur (also known as Auguste Levasseur) was a 19th-century French writer and diplomat known in the United States for accompanying the Marquis de La Fayette during his last trip to the Americas and in the Caribbean and Mexico for his involvement in French imperialism.
Levasseur is better known in the English-speaking world as the personal secretary of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, during his last Visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States, visit to the United States, from July 1824 to September 1825. In 1829, he published his travel's notes and memoirs in two volumes with the title of
Lafayette en Amérique, en 1824 et 1825 ou Journal d'un voyage aux États-Unis'. That same year, one translation appeared in German and two in English (New York City and Philadelphia). A fourth translation, this time in Dutch, was published in 1831. Since then, Levasseur's work has been an important source of information to historians. It continues to be cited as an important primary source; particularly as an account's witness of the events surrounding Lafayette's celebrated visit.
After gaining prominence through the publication of Lafayette's memories (or travel log) Levasseur became active in the French international arena. In 1838 he was appointed as consul to Haiti with the tasks of ensuring the Haiti indemnity controversy, indemnity payment that President Jean-Pierre Boyer had agreed in 1825 and of bringing the young Black Republic closer to a Protectorate#French protectorates, protectorate with France.
In 1843, while Haiti struggled between new reform liberal forces and the Dominican War of Independence, independence movement in the East Hispaniola, east, Levasseur involved himself in the internal politics by suggesting to Dominican leaders the idea of becoming a protectorate of France. France would supply money, arms and protection with the condition of giving up Samaná Bay and allowing France to appoint a governor. This plan did not work, and Levasseur is seen today as an example of unwelcome imperial intervention in the postcolonial world for Haitian and Dominican authors alike. Not long after failing as a diplomat in Haiti, Levasseur was appointed again to another French imperial intervention in the Americas: Second French intervention in Mexico, the case of Mexico.
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Works by Auguste Levasseurat Project Gutenberg
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levasseur, Auguste
French people of the American Revolution
1820s in the United States
19th century in Haiti
1840s in the Dominican Republic
People of the Dominican War of Independence
19th century in Mexico
19th-century French people