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Burr's Late-Night Pitch To Britain
- Aaron Burr met British ambassador Anthony Merry in March 1805 seeking ships, guns, and a £100,000 loan to support western independence plans.
- Merry reported Burr to London and warned that Burr might turn to France if Britain refused to help.
Office As Shelter And Networking Opportunity
- Burr used his last months as vice president to build political cover and contacts while avoiding extradition risks.
- Federal law then prevented extradition from D.C., letting Burr preside in the Senate despite murder indictments.
Wilkinson: Friend, Ally, And Double Agent
- General James Wilkinson secretly met with Burr in Washington and later became governor of Louisiana, giving Burr a powerful western ally.
- Wilkinson was also a paid agent of Spain, creating a treacherous web of loyalties on the frontier.