Daniel Hailes
Encyclopedia
Daniel Hailes was a British
diplomat. He was the British signatory to the Anglo-Dutch treaty ending the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
in 1783, before serving as a secretary to British embassy in France in 1784-1787, envoy to Poland in 1788-1791, envoy extraordinary to Denmark from 1791, envoy extraordinary to Sweden from 1795. He retired from diplomatic service in 1801.
in 1788, seeking to form the Polish Republic, Turkey and Sweden into an alliance against Russia and Austria and backing the reforms of the Great Sejm
and the idea of giving Danzig to Prussia.
Heavily opposed to the French Revolution
, he zealously attempted to calm Denmark's revolutionary leanings during his ambassadorial time there. After the 1794 fire at the Christiansborg Palace
, the Danish poet Peter Andreas Heiberg
wrote an article which he published in his friend Knud Lyne Rahbek
's journal Den Danske Tilskuer (The Danish Spectator) under the pseudonym Simon Sanddrue on 17 March that year. He states that he was an eyewitness to the fire and that, though most of the bystanders did their best to save the palace's contents, "two foreigners" stood at a distance watching the blaze. One of these foreigners described as a tall gentleman with a jacket and monocle who said in a broken but triumphant voice "Had the stupid Danish government spent only half the amount that is lost here tonight in sending a fleet against France, it could have won the war in three years, benefited its own and Europe's cause and still covered its losses". Heiberg added that, due to this audacity, he intended to add this man to his proposed publication of a Rogues' gallery, known in Danish as the Billedgalleri over adelige og uadelige Skurke og Skurkinder.
The article mentioned no names, but no one in Copenhagen
was in doubt that the monocled man was Hailes, who became angry and took Rahbek to court. However, in court Rahbek stated that he did not know who had written the article and that he had had no part in its writing, with the case thus ending in an acquittal. This result showed the Danish government's inability to control the press and thus further angered Hailes, who refused to meet the Danish foreign minister Andreas Peter Bernstorff
for seven weeks after the trial - a serious problem, since Anglo-Danish relations were at this time strained to breaking point due to Denmark's neutrality in the French Revolutionary Wars
. Bernstorff was at this time negotiating the release or ransom of several Danish ships seized by Britain on accusations of carrying contraband (Denmark had continued to trade with both Britain and France during the wars), but after the trial Hailes protested that "as long as the English government emissary is being insulted in Copenhagen, no one in London can think of releasing the Danish ships". That sentiment was probably instrumental in the poet Heiberg being fined 300 rigsdaler later in 1794 for insulting George III of England in his play Vor klub er dog en herlig sag (Our club is a wonderful case)
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
diplomat. He was the British signatory to the Anglo-Dutch treaty ending the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
The Fourth Anglo–Dutch War was a conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Dutch Republic. The war, tangentially related to the American Revolutionary War, broke out over British and Dutch disagreements on the legality and conduct of Dutch trade with Britain's enemies in that...
in 1783, before serving as a secretary to British embassy in France in 1784-1787, envoy to Poland in 1788-1791, envoy extraordinary to Denmark from 1791, envoy extraordinary to Sweden from 1795. He retired from diplomatic service in 1801.
Life
During his mission in Warsaw, he followed a policy of Anglo-Prussian understanding at LooLoo
- Painting :* Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo , French painter of allegorical scenes and portraits* Charles-André van Loo , French subject painter* Jean-Baptiste van Loo , French subject and portrait painter...
in 1788, seeking to form the Polish Republic, Turkey and Sweden into an alliance against Russia and Austria and backing the reforms of the Great Sejm
Great Sejm
The Great Sejm, also known as the Four-Year Sejm was a Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was held in Warsaw, beginning in 1788...
and the idea of giving Danzig to Prussia.
Heavily opposed to the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, he zealously attempted to calm Denmark's revolutionary leanings during his ambassadorial time there. After the 1794 fire at the Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
, the Danish poet Peter Andreas Heiberg
Peter Andreas Heiberg
Peter Andreas Heiberg was a Danish author and philologist. He was born in Vordingborg, Denmark. The Heiberg ancestry can be traced back to Norway, and has produced a long line of priests, headmasters and other learned men...
wrote an article which he published in his friend Knud Lyne Rahbek
Knud Lyne Rahbek
Knud Lyne Rahbek was a Danish literary historian, critic, writer, poet & magazine editor.Knud Lyne Rahbek was son of the clergyman Jacob Rahbek, but he had always wanted to become an actor. In his youth he tried out as an actor at the Royal Danish Theatre, but because of his looks he was...
's journal Den Danske Tilskuer (The Danish Spectator) under the pseudonym Simon Sanddrue on 17 March that year. He states that he was an eyewitness to the fire and that, though most of the bystanders did their best to save the palace's contents, "two foreigners" stood at a distance watching the blaze. One of these foreigners described as a tall gentleman with a jacket and monocle who said in a broken but triumphant voice "Had the stupid Danish government spent only half the amount that is lost here tonight in sending a fleet against France, it could have won the war in three years, benefited its own and Europe's cause and still covered its losses". Heiberg added that, due to this audacity, he intended to add this man to his proposed publication of a Rogues' gallery, known in Danish as the Billedgalleri over adelige og uadelige Skurke og Skurkinder.
The article mentioned no names, but no one in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
was in doubt that the monocled man was Hailes, who became angry and took Rahbek to court. However, in court Rahbek stated that he did not know who had written the article and that he had had no part in its writing, with the case thus ending in an acquittal. This result showed the Danish government's inability to control the press and thus further angered Hailes, who refused to meet the Danish foreign minister Andreas Peter Bernstorff
Andreas Peter Bernstorff
Andreas Peter Bernstorff was a Danish statesman and politician. He was a Danish minister, father of Christian Günther von Bernstorff, and a guardian of civil and political liberty.-Background and early career:A. P...
for seven weeks after the trial - a serious problem, since Anglo-Danish relations were at this time strained to breaking point due to Denmark's neutrality in the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. Bernstorff was at this time negotiating the release or ransom of several Danish ships seized by Britain on accusations of carrying contraband (Denmark had continued to trade with both Britain and France during the wars), but after the trial Hailes protested that "as long as the English government emissary is being insulted in Copenhagen, no one in London can think of releasing the Danish ships". That sentiment was probably instrumental in the poet Heiberg being fined 300 rigsdaler later in 1794 for insulting George III of England in his play Vor klub er dog en herlig sag (Our club is a wonderful case)