Allaire, Peter (b. c. 1740)

Merchant.

Involved in international commerce, he sold goods to French troops in Guyana and traveled widely before settling in London (c. 1775).

A spy for the British, Allaire attempted to win Franklin’s confidence by sending him intelligence from London, beginning in 1777. Franklin suspected a bottle of Madeira Allaire had sent as a gift was poisoned; as a result, Allaire spent several months in the Bastille (1780).

Born near New Rochelle, New York. Married to Rebecca — (maiden name not known).