Principles From Particulars: The Paragon Of Silas Deane

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¡§Success flourishes only in perseverance -- ceaseless, restless perseverance." The words of Manfred von Richthofen ring true not only in Silas Deane¡¦s comparative success story, but are also an introspection into the laborious task of historical erudition. The prologue of James W. Davidson and Mark H. Lytle¡¦s work, After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection, demonstrates the many obstacles and difficulties that face the historical scholar on his or her quest for accuracy in the academic world of the dead, a trek overshadowed by the necessity of painstaking precision and the ever-present test of reason. While most crossings into the realm of learning prove arduous, the field of history, as noted by the chronicle of Silas Deane and its subsequent discussion, is particularly susceptible to conclusions marred by uncertainty and complexity. Distinguishable from the sciences in its focus on the creation of a new method of organization and presentation rather than the practice of a tested formula, the quality of a historical thesis, clarification, or retelling, is wholly dependent upon the collection and research of the variance of accounts regarding the event, the way in which the intricate idiosyncrasies present in the case are attended to, and, of course, the ingrained attitudes and values of the historian.
The story of Silas Deane, while itself not of dire significance, serves well to illustrate the nature of historical scholarship. As an ambitious son of a Connecticut blacksmith who ascended the social hierarchy to become noticed by the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, and John Adams, to name a few (never-mind if they wished him well), Deane was a fine example of an opportunist, a characteristic which echoed in his career choices following the commencement of his education. After a succession of marriages and vocations employed as a scheme for prosperity, Deane¡¦s incessant aspiration was realized as he became ...