PRESIDENT MARTIN VAN BUREN - FOUR LANGUAGE SHIPS PAPERS SIGNED 08/15/1840 CO-SIGNED BY: JOHN FORSYTH - HFSID 288328

MARTIN VAN BUREN and JOHN FORSYTH
Four-language Ship's Papers for a whaling voyage in the Pacific.
Four language ship's papers signed: "M. Van Buren" as eighth U.S. President and "John Forsyth" as Secretary of State, 1p, 21x16½. Issued at New Bedford, (Mass.), 1840 August 15. Four language ship's papers (French, Spanish, English, Dutch). In part: Authorization for William Whitten, Jr.,"master or commander of the ship called the Rodman" ... bound for Pacific Ocean and laden with Provisions, Stores and Utensils for a whaling voyage...." The American sperm whaling industry had its greatest prosperity from 1820-1850. About 10,000 whales were killed annually. Much whaling took place in the Pacific Ocean, with many voyages lasting as long as four to five years; whaling ships sent their whale oil home by cargo ship from time to time and continued whaling. MARTIN VAN BUREN (1782-1862), a shrewd politician known as "The Little Magician" and "Old Kinderhook", served as eighth U.S. President from 1837-1841. While Democrats usually credit Jefferson and Jackson's as the founders of their Party, Van Buren was the real architect of its national and grass roots organization. The Panic of 1837 was blamed on Van Buren (called "Van Ruin" by his foes), dooming his re-election prospects. He ran for President again on the Free Soil ticket in 1848, pulling enough votes to swing the election from Democrat Lewis Cass to Whig Zachary Taylor. Over his long political career, Van Buren was also a U.S. Senator from New York (1821-1828), Governor of New York (1829), Secretary of State (1829-1831), U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1831-1832) and Vice President (1833-1837). JOHN FORSYTH served as Jackson's and Van Buren's Secretary of State from July 1, 1834 until March 3, 1841. He had previously served as U.S. Representative (1813-1818, 1823-1827), U.S. Senator (1818-1819, 1829-1834) and Governor of Georgia (1827-1829). Lightly toned and creased. Edges frayed with multiple notches. Paper seal near center. Multiple mailing folds. Pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.