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Collection Reference Number GLC02437.03861
From Archive Folder The Henry Knox Papers [0084] April-June 1788 
Title Henry Knox to Jean Baptiste Gouvion enquiring about Gouvion's employment prospects and discussing the Constitution
Date 26 April 1788
Author Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  
Recipient Gouvion, Jean-Baptiste  
Document Type Correspondence; Government document
Content Description Asks Gouvion, "Will the Russians or the Turks induce you to display your military talents... or have you prospects of active employment nearer home." Writes with assurance that the Constitution will be adopted within the course of a year, noting that it will probably be ratified by all states except for Rhode Island. Comments on the process of "discussion and opinion" the Constitution will undergo in the course of its ratification.
Subjects US Constitution  Ratification  France  Revolutionary War General  Military History  Global History and Civics  Government and Civics  Politics  Federalists  
People Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  Gouvion, Jean-Baptiste (1747-1792)  
Place written New York, New York
Theme Creating a New Government; Government & Politics
Sub-collection The Henry Knox Papers
Additional Information Gouvion was one of the four French military engineers sent to America upon the request of Congress (the others being Duportail, La Rodière, and de Laumoy). He entered the Continental Army on 8 July 1777 as a major and in November 1777 was given the rank of lieutenant colonel. Along with Duportail, he planned and executed the fortifications at West Point. He participated in the Battle of Yorktown, was breveted a colonel in November 1781, and retired from the army in October 1783. Although his service was considered exemplary, little is actually known of his activities in America (see Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution).
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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