Relations between the United States and the French Court of Versailles were established in 1778 with the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

After the Directory refused to accept Charles Cotesworth Pinckney's credentials, a commission was appointed to negotiate with the French Republic.

The members of the commission — Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry — were all accredited with the rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

[1] French officials demanded a bribe before they would commence negotiations, scuttling the mission in the XYZ Affair.

James Monroe was accredited Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Republic in 1803 to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.