GEORGE BANCROFT - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 06/14/1845 - HFSID 283915

GEORGE BANCROFT
As Secretary of the Navy (1845), he ordered an officer to report for a Court Martial board with his signature on this document
Manuscript Letter signed: "Geo Bancroft", 16x10 opened flat, folded to 8x10. Navy Department, 1845 June 14. On official letterhead to Captain George W. Storer, US Navy, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Docketed. In Full: "A Naval General Court Martial of which you are appointed a Member, is ordered to convened at Coleman's Hotel, Washington, D.C., on the twenty third day of June - at which time and place you will appear and report yourself to the presiding officer of the Court. I am respectfully yours". Note at bottom states: "Reported in compliance with the above order." Historian George Bancroft (1800-1891) is best known for his ten-volume History of the United States (1834-1873). Bancroft wrote well, and was accurate with his facts, but had a partisan viewpoint. (He was a Jacksonian Democrat, although one opposed to slavery). As President James K. Polk's first Secretary of the Navy (1845-1846), Bancroft established the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, finding the funds for the institution in his budget before Congress had authorized its creation. As Acting Secretary of War (1846), he issued orders to General Zachary Taylor to advance into territory disputed with Mexico, a move which triggered the Mexican War.He later served as the U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1846-1849), Prussia (1867-1871) and Germany (1871-1874). George W. Storer (1789-1864), to whom these orders were sent, served in the US Navy from 1890, rising from midshipman to rear admiral (following his 1861 retirement). He was Commander of the US Naval Yard at Portsmouth from 1843 to 1846. This Court Martial was convened to weigh charges against Lt. Robert E. Johnson, executive officer of the US Naval Asylum in Philadelphia. Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso. Horizontal fold creases. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.