Alexandre Francois Auguste de Grasse

Le Comte Alexandre Francois Auguste de Grasse (born February 14, 1765, date of death June 10, 1845) was a founding father of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Life

De Grasse was baptized in St. Louis Parish, Versailles, France. His father, Admiral de Grasse, commanded the French fleet which surprised Cornwallis at Yorktown and forced a surrender. In his father's biography, de Grasse gives a third person account of his journey to the New World.

While he was in San Domingo, he married the daughter of Jean Baptiste Delahogue, another founder of the Supreme Council. In July of 1794, de Grasse’s four sisters arrived in Boston. Later the next year, Congress awarded each of the daughters a thousand dollars each in gratitude for their father's aid to the American cause.

The Scottish Rite

The Comte was one of the eleven founders of the Supreme Council, the Mother Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite from which all other Supreme Councils of the world derive their authority.

On December 12, 1796, the Comte de Grasse, along with seven other men, was issued a patent by Hyman Long that made him a Deputy Grand Inspector General. Long had received the appointment and right to appoint new DGIG’s by Moses Cohen who had, in turn, received his appointment from Barend Spitzer. This appointment was a title recognizing that the bearer was in possession of the secrets of the Rite of the Royal Secret.

Due to the loss of records after the burning of Shepheard's Tavern, the actual level of involvement of Delahogue and de Grasse in the founding of the Supreme Council is a matter of much speculation.

Le Comte Alexandre Francois de Grasse Timeline 1765-1845

    Alexandre-Francois Auguste, Marquis de Grasse, arrived in Charleston, South Carolina on August 14, 1793 aboard the ship "Thomas." Accompanying him on this voyage were his wife, daughters, four sisters, and stepmother. According to tradition, they were hospitably received by John B. Holmes at his dwelling, now 15 Meeting Street.
    He was the son of Admiral de Grasse (1723-1788), who commanded the French fleet which helped in causing Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown and the triumph of the Americans.
    While in Charleston, two of Augustus de Grasse's daughters were baptized (one of whom had been born in Santo Domingo), two of his sisters married, and two other sisters died.

1765

    Le Comte Alexandre Francois de Grasse is born on February 14, the only son of Admiral Francois de Grasse, in the Parish of St. Louis, at Versailles, France.

1789

    A member of the French Army he goes to Santo Domingo a year after the death of his father.
    Marries the daughter of Jean Baptiste Delahogue.

1793

    July 7, his daughter is born at Cape Francaise.

    On August 14, de Grasse arrives in Charleston aboard the ship Thomas after 17 days of sailing from Cape Francois.

1794

    July 7, his four sisters arrive aboard the ship Thorn at Boston

1795

    Congress appropriated a $1,000.00 each to Amelia, Adelaide, Mélanie, and Silvia, daughters of Admiral de Grasse, in consideration of "extraordinary services" rendered to the United States by their father in the year 1781.
    Comte de Grasse's father in law becomes a founder in a Masonic Lodge named La Candeur at Charleston and is founded in large by French Roman Catholics.

1796

    December 12, a patent is issued to de Grasse by Hyman Long designating him to be a Deputy Grand Inspector General.
    A fire destroyed the building at Church and Broad Street along with all the Masonic records. The lodge is temporary inactive for some time.

1798

    de Grasse is listed as Master of La Candeur Masonic Lodge.

1799

    August 4 - de Grasse demitted from Loge La Candeur and six days later on August 10 becomes a founder of Loge La Reunion Francaise at Charleston.
    August 23 - His sister Amelie Maxime Rosalie dies of yellow fever at Charleston. She is buried at St. Mary's Church cemetery.
    September 9 - His sister Melanie Veronique Maxime dies of yellow fever. She is buried in St. Mary's Church cemetery.
    De Grasse goes to Santo Domingo to offer his services to General Hedouville and is captured, put in jail, and his feet/hands put in irons. Thanks to the American Consul's intervention, with proof that he is an American citizen, he is freed to go only if he boards the next ship to Charleston.

1800

    Mr. Delahogue had a school and he placed an ad in the Charleston City Gazette on October 16, which announces the following:

Those persons who may desire their children to learn the principles of Fortifications and Artillery will pay an additional price per month. He [Delahogue] has made arrangements for this purpose with Mr. Augustus de Grasse, his son-in-law.

1801

    January 10, - de Grasse put a notice in the Times paper in Charleston informing the public that he has opened his new "Fencing Room" located at his house on Federal Street. Also listed is the times and hours it is opened.

    Founder of the Supreme Council for the Scottish Rite Bodies.

    Grand Marshal of the South Carolina Ancient Grand Lodge.

1802

    February 21 - Brother de Grasse, Deputy Inspector General was appointed by the Supreme Council as the new Grand Inspector General, and Grand Commander of the French West Indies. Establishes a Supreme Council for the West Indies.
    Also appointed at this time was Illustrious Brother Jean Baptiste Marie De La Hogue, Deputy Inspector Grand Commander of the West Indies.

1805

    Establishes a Supreme Council for Italy located at Milan on March 5.

1809

    Establishes a Supreme Council for Spain located at Madrid in October.

1816

    De Grasse's military career ends at the age of 51.

    De Grasse is still the Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of France.

1818

    Disagreements arose in the France Supreme Council and the Grand Orient.

1821

    De Grasse resigns as Grand Commander of France.

1840

    He describes himself as being 76 years old, a worthy father, and after a life so full, he has reached old age without his rights to the gratitude of his country having ever been recognized. In the memoir of his father he wrote that as a military man he and his father were victims of political upheavals in the life of France.

1845

    June 10 Count Grasse, Alexandre Francois Auguste, Major, age 80, was registered at the Infirmary de l’Hotel des Invalides (Military Hospital) died around 12:30AM of chronic bronchial pneumonia.