Monroe James



James Madison & J.Q. Adams Signed Ship's Passport from Providence, RI - Pristine!







A ship's passport signed by two U.S. Presidents - James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. 5th U.S. President James Monroe (1758-1831) signed as "James Monroe", and future 6th U.S. President and then U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) signed as "John Quincy Adams" at lower right. Signed on July 22, 1820. Passport no. 219 was partly printed and partly handwritten on vellum, with a glorious double vignette at top depicting a ship in full sail and a city lighthouse. Bearing a blind embossed paper seal at lower left. Docketed with extensive ship's notes, ca. 1825-1830, verso. Irregular edges and expected wrinkles/creases, else near fine--among one of the best ship's passports we've seen in terms of condition! 10.5" x 14.375".







In part, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:







"By the President of the United States of America







SUFFER the Brig called Nereus of Providence John Jennings master or commander of the burthen of two hundred twenty five + 46/95 tons or thereabouts mounted with four guns navigated with twelve men







TO PASS with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hindrance seisure or molestation the said Brig appearing by good testimony to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United States and to him or them only







Given under my Hand and the Seal of the United States of America the twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty







[signed] James Monroe







[printed] By the President







[signed] John Quincy Adams [printed] Secretary of State..."







In Greek mythology, Nereus was the eldest son of the Sea (Pontus) and Earth (Gaia). Nereus was therefore an extremely popular ship's name (for example, historical records indicate the existence of another brig called Nereus sailing from Salem, Massachusetts, around this time.) The brig was the preferred merchant and marine vessel in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It was fast, trim, and maneuverable, thanks to its two square-rigged masts.







The last president of the so-called Virginia Dynasty, James Monroe also ushered the nation into both the nineteenth century and the Era of Good Feelings. Monroe first became involved in revolutionary politics as a teenaged orphan when he stormed the Virginia Governor's palace; he was later wounded at the Battle of Trenton. Monroe studied law under then Governor of Virginia Thomas Jefferson. His brilliant political career included stints as Continental Congressional delegate Virginia Senator, Virginia Governor, U.S. Minister to France, U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom, U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Secretary of War, and finally 5th U.S. President (1817-1825.)







John Quincy Adams had many intellectual interests cultivated by an unusual upbringing. During his adolescence, he frequently traveled abroad with his father, future 2nd U.S. President John Adams. John Quincy trained as a lawyer and joined the foreign service, representing his young country's interests in Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. John Quincy was also a Senator and Congressman from Massachusetts. He served as 8th Secretary of State before entering the White House in 1825.









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