KING EDWARD VII (GREAT BRITAIN) - MILITARY APPOINTMENT SIGNED 12/03/1904 - HFSID 254672

EDWARD VII
Appointment of a 2nd Lieutenant in the Land Forces.
Partly Printed DS: "Edward R&I" as King of England, 1p, 16x12. Our Court at Saint James's, 1904 November 25. In part: "To Our Trusty and well beloved Arthur Melville Cutbill, Gentleman, Greeting: We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct, do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Land Forces from the Third day of December 1904. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of 2nd Lieutenant or in such higher Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to...." Edward VII (1841-1910) was 59 when he became King of Great Britain and Ireland, succeeding his mother, Queen Victoria, in 1901. Fluent in French and German, Edward VII made a number of visits abroad. In 1904, he visited France, a visit that helped to create the atmosphere which made the April 8, 1904 Anglo-French Entente Cordiale possible. He was related to nearly every European sovereign and came to be known as the "Uncle of Europe". Edward VII also played an active role in encouraging military and naval reforms, pressing for the reform of the Army Medical Service and the modernization of the Home Fleet. 2-inch diameter paper seal affixed at upper left. Foxed which lightly touches signature. Folds, which are shaded and show some separation do not touch signature but touch text (all letters intact).