JOHN QUINCY ADAMS APPOINTS JOHN A. DIX

A CAPTAIN OF ARTILLERY

THUS MARKING A PIVITAL EVENT IN HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY. (1767-1848). President of the United States. Partially Printed Document Signed, “John Quincy Adams,” as President. One page, folio. Washington, D.C. May 1, 1826. Countersigned JAMES BARBOUR, as Secretary of War. With paper wafer wax seal of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAR OFFICE. The document reads:

“The President of the United States of America, To all who shall see these presents greeting: Know ye, That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of John A. Dix I have nominated and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate do appoint him Captain in the Third Regiment of Artillery in the service of the United States to rank as such from the thirtieth day of August eighteen hundred and twenty five/ He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all manner of thins thereunto belonging. And I do strictly discharge and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Captain And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States of America, or the General, or other superior Officers to him, according to the rules and discipline of War. This Commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States, for the time being. Given under my hand at the City of Washington, this first day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty six and in the fiftieth year of the Independence of the United States, John Quincy Adams. By the President James Barbour Secretary of War.” 

 

The impressive, varied career of John Dix began at 14 when his commission as an ensign made him the youngest officer in the United States Army. Quickly proving his abilities, Dix was soon promoted to third lieutenant, the first in a series of steady advancements. Following the tragic loss of his father, Dix shouldered the heavy responsibility of providing for his mother and eight siblings. Continuing to move quickly through the ranks of the United States Army, he became a Second Lieutenant in 1814. Transferred to an artillery division, Dix was next promoted to First Lieutenant and began to study law in hopes of leaving the Army while young. After another promotion to the Captaincy of the Third Artillery Division in 1826, Dix was married and retired from the Army to begin his legal practice.

Turning his attention to politics, Dix was next appointed Adjutant General for New York in 1830, the first in a series of state appointments that also included Secretary of State of New York, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for New York, and United States Senator for New York. Dix was serving as Postmaster General for New York at the start of the Civil War when he joined the Union Army as the highest ranking Major General of Volunteers in May of 1861. After peace was restored, Dix again turned to political matters, serving as the United States Minister to France and also as Governor of New York, the final post in the long, diverse career of an inspiring American patriot.

 

Appointments for individuals that went on to have distinguished careers in their later lives, rarely appear for sale in the marketplace.  Getting one of this quality and condition is a true rarity today.  A superb item for the collector of presidential material.

 

$5950.00