Humphreys, David (1752-1818) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04954 Author/Creator: Humphreys, David (1752-1818) Place Written: Lisbon, Portugal Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1791 Pagination: 1 p. ; 22.9 x 18.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Humphreys as the American Minister to Portugal to Knox as Secretary of War. Humphreys writes a letter of introduction for the Chevalier de Freire, who will be a Portuguese diplomat to America. Describes the minister as a man "of infinite worth," and asks that Knox "do him all the good in your power, more as an honest tribute of veneration for his merit, than in simple compliance with the recommendation of" Humphreys.
In 1791 Humphreys had the distinction of being the first minister appointed to a foreign country under the Constitution when he was posted to Lisbon. In that post he negotiated the ransomed release of American prisoners from the Dey of Tripoli.
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