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Why Did Silas Deane Die

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When Silas Deane boarded the ship that would take him back to America he was not expecting it to be the cause of his demise. Formerly the American attaché to France during the Revolutionary War, Deane was ousted from his position when it was revealed he was selling secrets to the English. Not having anywhere else to go, Deane lived in Belgium for a time until he went to England. Eventually he saw it safe enough to make the trip to America, and not be prosecuted for his wrongdoings that occurred during the Revolutionary War. Whether he would be truly accepted back into the United States or not, it would never be found out due to Deane’s mysterious death on the passage over to the United States. Deane’s death on the surface appears to be a suicide, but if looked at closely it could have been a murder. Silas Deane was most murdered by Edward Bancroft because of Bancroft’s motive, Bancroft’s knowledge of poisons, and the lack of evidence found to …show more content…

During the Revolutionary War while Bancroft and Deane lived together in France Edward Bancroft acted as a double agent (p. xxvi) for the United States and England. Deane, who was living with Bancroft at the time (p. xxv), could have easily known about Bancroft’s dealings. In order to clean his own reputation with the United States, Deane would have had to gain back their trust somehow. If he used his hypothetical knowledge of Bancroft’s double-crossing for his own purposes it would have surely put him back into the United States’ favor. If Deane went back to the United States, Bancroft would have a possibility of being publically ousted as a traitor. Killing Deane would have prevented any opportunity of the sort from arising. With the motive to kill Deane, Bancroft becomes a suspect for his possible

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