Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Anderson, John (1726-1796) to George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10274 Author/Creator: Anderson, John (1726-1796) Place Written: Glasgow, Scotland Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 20 August 1793 Pagination: 1 p. ; 40.7 x 25.8 cm. Order a Copy

Same as GLC02437.10273. Titles the document "The Memorial." Writes discussing inventions. States "[t]hat he has invented a Bronze Guns Metal, which has the advantage of Common Iron Guns, and of Common Brass Guns, without their imperfections. That he has invented a Carriage for Guns; by which the recoil of the Gun is distroyed, without giving motion to the Carriage." Believes that these inventions will be very useful and writes that "because they were brought to the test of experiment by French Armies under the Generals [Marquis de] La Fayette, [Comte de] Rochambeau, [Charles François Du Périer] Dumourier, and Custine; and because, the Memorialist received the thanks of the French Nation; and which he values much more, of the military officers who made use of them in very trying situations." Volunteers his services in making the field pieces and writes that he "would think himself highly honoured by being appointed Engineer, Artillerist, and Director of the Gun Foundery, to the United States of America; which office would likewise give Them a right to other things of his invention; besides the two specified, and explained ... " Watermarked.

Anderson, John, 1726-1796
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807
Dumourier, Charles François Du Périer, 1739-1823
Custine, Adam Philip, Count de, 1740-1793

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