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.

Monroe, James (1758-1831) [Endorsement securing naval commission]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.195 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph endorsement signed Date: 17 December 1816 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 24.9 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

Initial letter was written by Francis Taliaferro Brooke, a judge on the Virginia Supreme Court to Monroe as Secretary of State requesting a recommendation for a naval position for Dr. Benjamin D. Russel. Brooke said Russel's health was damaged during his work as a surgeon of militia in the War of 1812 and that he was ordered to breathe sea air to recover it. Asks Monroe to oblige this experiment. On verso over address, Monroe endorses the request to the Secretary of the Navy. Initialed "JM" after his endorsement.

Brooke was a Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals (later reorganized as the Virginia Supreme Court).

Brooke, Francis Taliaferro, 1763-1851
Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Russel, Benjamin D., fl. 1814

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources