1785 - Political Events

Political Events

The affair of the diamond necklace creates a sensation in France beginning August 15 when Louis, Cardinal de Rohan, 51, is arrested as he prepares to officiate at Assumption Day services for Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. His mistress Jeanne Valois, 29, comtesse de La Motte, has led him to believe that the queen is enamored of him and has authorized him to buy a necklace of diamonds collected by the Paris jewelry firm Boehmer and Bassenge originally for the king's mistress Marie Jean, comtesse du Barry. The comtesse de La Motte has presented the jewelers with notes signed by the cardinal, they have complained to the queen, she has told Boehmer that she never ordered the necklace and certainly never received it, the comtesse is also arrested, and much of France chooses not to believe the queen. The case will be tried before Parlement next year.

The Treaty of Fontainebleau November 8 resolves Austrian-Dutch disputes. Austria receives territory in Brabant and Limburg, complete control of the Scheldt above Sanftigen, plus 10 million florins, but gives up claims to Maastricht and leaves the mouth of the Scheldt in Dutch hands.

English widow Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smyth), 29, is married secretly in mid-December to George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, 23, although the marriage is invalid under terms of the 1772 Royal Marriage Act since it was contracted without the king's permission. Because she is a Roman Catholic, the danger of Mrs. Fitzherbert's bearing a child who may one day claim the throne will be a source of gossip and concern for years to come (see 1795).

Burma's king Bodawpaya makes the former kingdom of Arakan a Burmese province and invades Siam, only to meet defeat at the hands of the Siamese (see 1784; revolt, 1794).

Georgia colony founder James E. Oglethorpe dies at Cranham Hall, Essex, June 30 at age 88; jurist William Whipple drops dead while on circuit in New Hampshire November 10 at age 55, having signed the Declaration of Independence 9 years ago.