To George Washington from William Fitzhugh, 17 January 1792
From William Fitzhugh
Mill Mont [Calvert County, Md.] Jany 17th 1792
Dear Sir
As the late unhappy miscarriage to the westward gives occasion to Expect that some troops will be speedily raised for the Continental Service permit me to recommend to you Mr David Thompson a Gentleman from Ireland1—He was of the Whig volunteers there & came to this Country about five years ago as a preceptor to a Gentleman’s children near me & conducted Himself with prudence & propriety in that situation—He has since been one of the Tutors of the College or Accademy in Alexandria where I believe He has conducted Himself with Equal reputation—He now wishes to enter into a military life for which He appears to me to have a natural propensity & I believe will make a brave Soldier He is a man of Spirit & Integrity & should your Excellency think proper to Honor Him with a Commission I entertain no doubt of his distinguishing himself in that character—You will I expect receive from Col. Fitzgerald & others of your acquaintance in Virginia Letters in favor of this Gentln corresponding with what I have said of him—I have the Honor to Be with perfect Respect & Esteem Dear Sir Yr affecte & Oblig. Huml. Servt
Willm Fitzhugh
L, DLC:GW.
William Fitzhugh (1721–1798), a native of Stafford County, Va., served with Lawrence Washington in the Cartagena campaign of 1741, and he was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1748 to 1758. Soon after marrying Ann Frisby Rousby, widow of John Rousby of Rousby Hall in Calvert County, Md., in 1752, Fitzhugh moved to Rousby Hall, and he subsequently served in the Maryland legislature and held various local offices. When Rousby Hall burned during the Revolutionary War, he moved to Millmont, also in Calvert County. The nearly blind Fitzhugh had his letters written by his sons and employees.
1. David Thompson (d. 1799) did not receive an appointment at this time, but in May 1794 GW appointed him an ensign in the Legion of the United States (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 9 May 1794). Thompson was promoted to lieutenant in 1799 ( 1:320).