[Madison, James]:

$3,000 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

[ENGRAVED NAVAL COMMISSION, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON, PROMOTING U.S. MARINE JOSEPH KUHN TO SECOND LIEUTENANT DURING THE WAR OF 1812]. An engraved naval commission, signed by President James Madison and affixed with the seal of the Navy Department, promoting Joseph Kuhn to Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps during the War of 1812. This commission is dated July 28, 1813, and is countersigned by William Jones as Secretary of the Navy and registered by Nathaniel G. Maxwell. Kuhn was stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during the war, and commanded a detachment of Marines attached to the freshly-built U.S.S. Guerriere at the important Battle of Baltimore. The Marine Corps was formally organized in 1798 and participated meaningfully in the Barbary and Quasi-Wars, but first truly distinguished themselves during the War of 1812. A significant naval document from America's "Second War for Independence," signed by President Madison.

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