Henry Knox to John Adams urging him to allow Knox's son Henry to be promoted in the US Navy - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.07272
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0140] May-August 1799
Title	Henry Knox to John Adams urging him to allow Knox's son Henry to be promoted in the US Navy
Date	2 June 1799
Author	Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Recipient	Adams, John
Document Type	Correspondence; Government document
Content Description	Knox writes to President Adams, urging him to allow Knox's son Henry to be promoted from midshipmen to Lieutenant in the US Navy. (Knox Jr. was midshipman on the USS Constitutional). The docket reads, "The President on the receipt of this letter dd Henry a Commission of Lieutenant in the Navy, filled up with his own hand."
Subjects	Navy President Military History Office Seeker Children and Family USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)
People	Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Adams, John (1735-1826)
Place written	Boston, Massachusetts
Theme	Government & Politics; Naval & Maritime; Children & Family; The Presidency
Sub-collection	The Henry Knox Papers
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Download PDF [draft] My dear Sir I flatter myself with the hope that the subject of this letter will not be considered by you as unreasonable importunity - My son my only son has been a midshipman in the navy upwards of a year. Before that period he performed a long voyage to india. His skill as a navigator, added to his experience as a seaman, appears in the opinion of Capt Nicholson, and the sailing master of the ship to have qualified him as a lieutenant. He has an ambition to be promoted. He feels himself so degraded by circumstances of situation as a midshipman, that he continues with extreme impatience in that office and I am very apprehensive that he will unless it seems the object of his wish [2] abandon the project altogether - This circumstance would be inexpressibly mortifying to me - It is far from my desire to injure or interfere with any other persons rights. If he could be appointed a Lieutenant in the navy at large and permitted to act as an extra Lieutenant on board of the Constitution or the Boston or any other ship bound immediately to sea, it would be considered a great favor I have the honor to be with perfect attachment my dear Sir Your Sincere and devoted humble sevt HKnox The president of the US. [docket] The President of the US. June 2 1799 N.B. - The President on the receipt of this letter did Henry a Commission of Lieutenant in the Navy, filled up with His own hand -

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