Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10221 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 July 1789 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 38.5 x 24.4 cm. Order a Copy
Writes concerning the annual meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati at the Bunch of Grapes where they all had a "joyous day, everyone endeavoring to make each other happy." Goes on to describe the general business of the meeting. "We choose the same officers as last year..." Watermarked "L Paine" and with a hunting horn in a crest with "G R" underneath.
The Society of the Cincinnati was likely by Knox. Membership was generally limited to officers who had served at least three years in the Continental Army or Navy but included officers of the French Army and Navy above certain ranks. The Society is named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, who left his farm to accept a term as Roman Consul and then served as Magister Populi for a short time, thereby assuming near-dictatorial control of Rome to meet a war emergency. When the battle was won, he returned power to the Senate and went back to plowing his fields. The Society's motto reflects that ethic of selfless service: Omnia relinquit servare rempublicam - He relinquished everything to serve the Republic. The Society of the Cincinnati is generally considered the premiere American hereditary society and is the oldest military society in continuous existence in North America.
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