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.

Irvine, Charles (1756-1819) to Alexander Irvine

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.023.05 Author/Creator: Irvine, Charles (1756-1819) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 July 1781 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 32.5 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to his brother in Aberdeen, Scotland that he has arrived safely to New York after a passage of seven weeks from England. States that the regiment he is entering is at Kingsbridge, 14 miles from New York. Reports that he met with the commander, Lieutenant Colonel McLeroth, was introduced to the officers, and joins today. Explains that he will write again soon but wanted to make sure this letter got onto the packet to England. He hopes to get a lieutenant appointment as he is the only ensign in the regiment to purchase a commission. Gives love to family and friends. Charles Irvine was a soldier in the British army during the Revolutionary War.

Charles Irvine served in the British Army for fifteen years before going on half pay. But he soon returned, and eventually rose to the rank of major general.
Alexander Irvine was the Eighteenth Laird of Drum. He was involved in a number of financial squabbles during his early life.

Irvine, Charles, 1756-1819
Irvine, Alexander, 1754-1844

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