Andrew Johnson & William McKinley Promote Career Army/Naval Officer & Civil War Veteran

Two military documents relating to George William Beaman (1837-1917), a career army/naval officer and Civil War veteran who retired with the rank of Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy. The first document was signed by 17th U.S. President Andrew Johnson, and the second document was signed by 25th U.S. President William S. McKinley.

The lot is comprised of:

1. A 1p document signed by 17th U.S. President Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), as "Andrew Johnson" near lower right, and counter-signed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (1802-1878), as "Gideon Welles" near lower left. Issued from Washington, D.C. on May 29, 1866. The partly printed and partly handwritten document on parchment bears an embossed red paper seal at the lower bottom. Docketed at lower left. Partly affixed to wooden frame stretchers at top and right. Expected wear including weathering, isolated stains, heavy wrinkles, and minor chipped edges, else very good. The overall size is 14.75" x 18.5" x .5."

The military appointment co-signed by President Andrew Johnson and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles appointed George W. Beaman to the rank of "Paymaster" in the U.S. Navy effective March 21, 1866. Lewis Randolph Hamersley's "The Records Of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps" (1894) confirms Beaman's promotion to Paymaster at this time.

2. A 1p document signed by 25th U.S. President William S. McKinley (1843-1901), as "William McKinley" near lower right, and also signed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long (1838-1915), as "John D Long" near lower left. Issued from Washington, D.C. on April 13, 1899. The partly printed and partly handwritten document on parchment is docketed at the lower left. Expected wear including minor wrinkles and isolated stains. Marginal loss along both the left and right edges does not affect the text or the signatures. Else very good. 15.75" x 19.375."

The promotion, effective April 9, 1899, made Beaman "Pay Director in the Navy with the rank of Captain." Beaman would retire at the rank of rear admiral less than one month after this promotion, on May 7, 1899.

George William Beaman enlisted as a private in the 3rd Regiment of the Missouri U.S. Reserve Corps, a pro-Unionist militia unit, in May 1861; during his tenure with the infantry, Beaman would serve with John Fremont and Ulysses S. Grant. Beaman switched military branches in March 1862, becoming acting assistant paymaster in the U.S. Navy. During the Civil War, Beaman was later attached to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, and the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Beaman's naval career from 1862 until his retirement in 1899 was mostly administrative (accounting or store-keeping) undertaken at various naval stations or on various vessels.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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