PRESIDENT WILLIAM McKINLEY - MILITARY APPOINTMENT SIGNED 05/06/1899 CO-SIGNED BY: LT. GENERAL HENRY C. CORBIN, GEORGE DE RUE MEIKLEJOHN - HFSID 27418

PRESIDENT WILLIAM McKINLEY, HENRY C. CORBIN, GEORGE DE RUE MEIKLEJOHN
Military appointment of a First Lieutenant of Artillery dated 1899, bearing rare signature from Assistant Secretary of War George De Rue Meiklejohn
Military appointment signed: "William McKinley", "H.C. Corbin", "G.D. Meiklejohn", 21x16. May 6, 1899. Blue seal of the Department of War affixed on lower left center. Text reads in part: "Know Ye, That reposing special trust and confidence in the Patriotism, Valor, Fidelity, and Abilities of Mervyn C. Buckey, I do appoint him First Lieutenant of Artillery in the service of the United States...". Mervyn C. Buckey, mentioned here, was honorably discharged in 1920 at the rank of Colonel. WILLIAM McKINLEY (1843-1901) represented Ohio as a Republican in the U.S. Congress from 1877-1883 and 1885-1891, and he served as Governor of Ohio from 1892-1896. Elected 25th U.S. President in 1896, McKinley was reelected to a second term in 1900 with a larger plurality of votes than any other Chief Executive before him. The U.S. became a world power during his Presidency, winning a war with Spain (1898) and acquiring overseas colonies (Puerto Rico and the Philippines). On September 6, 1901, at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, President McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist. He died on September 14, 1901, the third President to be assassinated. President McKinley depended on Adjutant General HENRY C. CORBIN (1842-1909) when it came to military matters. Frequently, it was Corbin who ordered military movements, not Secretary of War Alger. Corbin served as Adjutant General from 1898-1904. The Spanish-American War ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. By this treaty, Spain freed Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the United States, receiving $20 million in payment for the Philippines. GEORGE DE RUE MEIKLEJOHN (1857-1929) represented Nebraska as Lieutenant Governor from 1889 to 1891, and later in the House from 1893 to 1897. He was also President of the Senate (1886), chairman of the Republican State convention (1887), and chairman of the Republican State central committee (1887 and 1888). In 1897, shortly after leaving the House of Representatives, Meiklejohn was appointed by President William McKinley as the Assistant Secretary of War, serving through the Spanish-American war until his resignation in 1901. He later pursued reelection to the Senate, but was not successful, and instead practiced law in Los Angeles until his death in 1929. Heavily toned. Soiled. Edges worn and torn in some areas. Corners heavily worn, with bottom left corner bearing especially large tear. Stained across bottom margin. Surface creases. Ink notes (unknown hand) surrounding Corbin's signature on top margin. Otherwise, fine condition.