Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Back to Collection Search

Warren, Mercy Otis (1728-1814) to Henry Knox

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 #: GLC02437.04245 Author/Creator: Warren, Mercy Otis (1728-1814) Place Written: Plymouth, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 June 1789 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 23 x 18.5 cm.

Summary of Content: Would like to recommend Major Henry Warren (likely her son) for the position of Collector of Customs for Plymouth and Duxborough, and mentions that he had worked with General Benjamin Lincoln. Hopes Knox might be able to use his influence with President [George] Washington to help him receive an appointment. Also ruminates on the nature of the new presidency (referring to George Washington) and the new government in the United States. "But I can contemplate perhaps with equal pleasure beneath my own private roof the felicity this people may enjoy under the administration of a Man made by Heaven to conduct War & revolution with glory to his country..." Sends her best compliments to Mrs. Knox.

People: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Warren, Mercy Otis, 1728-1814
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Warren, Henry, 1764-1828
Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Historical Era: The New Nation, 1783-1815

Subjects: Woman AuthorWomen of the Founding EraWomen's HistoryOffice SeekerLetter of Introduction or RecommendationGovernment and CivicsTaxes or TaxationCommercePresidentLiterature and Language Arts

Sub Era: The Early Republic

Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.