Staten Island Peace Conference

About

The Staten Island Peace Conference was a brief informal diplomatic conference held between representatives of the British Crown and the United States in the hope of bringing an end to the American Revolutionary War. The conference took place on September 11, 1776, a few days after British forces captured Long Island and less than three months after the United States Declaration of Independence. The conference was held at Billop Manor, the Staten Island residence of Loyalist Christopher Billop. The participants were British Vice-Admiral of the White Richard Howe, Viscount Howe and members of the Second Continental Congress John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Edward Rutledge.

Upon being placed in command of British naval forces in North America, Howe had sought authority to resolve the conflict peacefully. However, his power to negotiate was by design extremely limited, which left the Congressional delegation pessimistic over a summary resolution. The American delegates insisted on recognition of their recently declared independence, which Howe was unable to grant. After just three hours, the delegates retired, and the British resumed their ultimately successful campaign to capture New York City.