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Document 44146

JAMES MONROE and SAMUEL SOUTHARD
Signed by Monroe as President but dated four years before he became President!
Partly Printed DS: "James Monroe" as fifth U.S. President and "Saml S. Southard" as Secretary of the Navy, 1p, 12¾x8¼. On vellum. In part: "Know Ye, That, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Samuel B. Phelps, I do appoint him a Midshipman in the Navy of the United States. He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Midshipman...And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States of America, or his superior officer set over him, according to the Rules and Discipline of the Navy...this twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen and in the thirty seventh year of the Independence of the United States." ALTHOUGH DATED MAY 20, 1813, THIS APPOINTMENT WAS NOT SIGNED AT THAT TIME. Monroe did not become President until March 4, 1817 and Southard did not become his Secretary of the Navy until September 16, 1823 (their terms ended on March 3, 1825). "(Duplicate)" is penned in the upper margin, which may explain what happened. On May 20, 1813, President James Madison and Secretary of the Navy William Jones probably signed Phelps' original appointment. After it was lost or destroyed, President Monroe and Secretary Southard signed this duplicate document sometime between September 16, 1823 and March 3, 1825. On December 16, 1824, President Monroe nominated Midshipman Phelps to be Lieutenant and, on January 13, 1825, it was consented to by the U.S. Senate. Documents dated after a President's term, usually ships' papers, appear on the market from time to time. This is the first Presidential document that we have seen dated BEFORE the President's term began! 2-inch diameter embossed seal at upper left. Dark brown stains at left and right areas on verso with show through on front, affecting some words. Folds, including a horizontal fold under Monroe's and 1 above Southard's signature. Soiled and creased.

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