Autographs
Major General Peter Muhlenburg Philadelphia Pay Order for Carlisle Gazette Advertising "...for six Months, the drawing of the Lottery, etc."
PETER MUHLENBURG (1746-1807). American clergyman, Continental Army Soldier Brevet to Major General, elected Vice-President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania (1787- October 1788) and Political figure in the new United States.
August 20, 1788-Dated, Post Revolutionary War period Autograph Document Signed, "P Muhlenburg: V.P." as Vice President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 1 page, measuring 6.5" x 8.25", at Philadelphia (PA), Very Fine. Here, Muhlenburg orders the Treasurer, David Rittenhouse (Scientist, later the First Director of the U.S. Mint) to pay Six Pounds, Two Shillings and Sixpence to Mssrs. Kline and Reynolds for advertising in the Carlisle Gazette, "...for six Months, the drawing of the Lottery for distribution of the donation Lands, and for advertising of the Resolution of the Council for receiving proposals to clear the Conemaugh Road..." This document is boldly handwritten in deep brown on clean laid period paper, and appears to be in the hand of Muhlenburg himself. Signed at lower right by Peter Muhlenburg as V.P., at left by J(ames) Duncan for John Nicholson, and on the back by George Rinehart. Lightly toned along the two vertical folds, one small chip, and an archival reinforcement on the back. This is only the second Revolutionary War Major General Peter Muhlenburg autograph as V.P. of Pennsylvania we have offered.
Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (October 1, 1746 - October 1, 1807) was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly independent United States. A Lutheran minister, he served in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate from Pennsylvania.
At the end of the Revolutionary War (1783), he was breveted to Major General and settled in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg was then elected to the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1784. He was elected Vice-President of the Council, a position comparable to that of Lieutenant Governor, on October 31, 1787 his term as Vice-President ended on a mysterious note. On October 14, 1788 the minutes of the Executive Council report that Muhlenberg had left Philadelphia without tendering his resignation.
Muhlenberg was elected to the 1st Congress (1789"1791) as one of the at-large representatives from Pennsylvania. His brother Frederick was the Speaker of the House for that same Congress. He was the first founder of the Democratic-Republican Societies in 1793. Muhlenberg served in Congress as a Republican during the 3rd Congress 1793"1795 and 5th Congress 1799"1801 for the 1st district. Muhlenberg was elected by the legislature to the U.S. Senate on a second ballot in February 1801 over George Logan, but resigned on June 30 of that same year.
President Thomas Jefferson appointed him the supervisor of revenue for Pennsylvania in 1801 and customs collector for Philadelphia in 1802. He served in the latter post until his death.