Roderigue Hortalez and Company was a
shell corporation created by
Spain and
France in July 4, 1776 in order to provide arms and financial assistance to
American Revolutionaries in anticipation of the
American Revolutionary War against Britain. The ruse was organized by
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, a French playwright, watch-maker, inventor, musician, politician, fugitive, spy, publisher, arms-dealer, and revolutionary. Weapons and materials were procured to help the Americans fight the
British, enemies of France at the time, through the corporation.