FRee dixie,sw
It depends on how you want to view it. I know you're just going to hate my using one as a source, but here is a website that lists the known U.S. representatives to France. You will note that Franklin preceeded Jefferson and that they both had the same title, Minister to France. In fact this and Charge d'Affaires were the titles used until 1893. I believe that Charge d'Affaires is still used in diplomatic circles and is ranked lower than ambassador or minister. So it appears that Franklin was the first ambassador, appointed in 1778 after France recognized the independence of the United Stateds and signed defense and trade treaties with us. So who signed defense and trade treaties with the confederacy?