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.

Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Benjamin M. Stoddert

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.07221 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 January 1799 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.8 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

Knox writes Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert "on behalf of Mr. Charles Russel late acting first Lieutenant and Mr. William Amory." Knox explains they left the ship Constitution because they did not get their commissions. They are of good character and they wish to solicit President John Adams "that they may be permitted to act on board of some other ship in their former ranks until it shall be proved by Capt. Nicholson himself whether they are or are not worthy of the Commissions."
Docket says the letter also went to Charles Russel.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Stoddert, Benjamin, 1751-1813
Russell, Charles, C., fl. 1799

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