Thomas Jefferson Papers

Claudius F. Gojon to Thomas Jefferson, 12 May 1823

From Claudius F. Gojon

Hyde-Park, May 12, 1823

Sir,

The Subscriber whose name is Claudius F. Gojon,—at Doctor Allen’s Accademy,—Hyde-Park, Dutches County, state of N-York, humbly beg you will excuse his Liberty & permit him to tell you that—having heard that you are a Member of the Trustees of the new College of Virginia, about to be achieved and organized, should it be not yet provided with a French-Teacher, I offer myself in this capacity; and even for the Spanish and Italian Languages, the pronounciation of which is particularly familiar to me.

I have been for several years previous to my coming in the United-States one of the Professors at the University of France, and possess documents which attest my ability and good conduct, whilst at the same. as for my Residence in this Country, that dates from April of the last year, I can refer to good many Gentlemen, especially to P. S. Duponceau, Esq. in Philadelphia, which enlightened gentleman can give every information that may be desired respecting me.

Was you desirous to know my age, I am 28 years old, and accordingly able to overrun a pretty long career in the public Tuition; had I the happiness to elapse the remainder of it under your Eyes, Sir, and in a Place bearing one of the Plaques of your Benevolence, Sentiments, and immortal Lights, I know not how to express my gratitude for the Favour you would grant me; but I can Sincerely tell you that your Fame and what I have been apprised in the conversations of my Friends have highly excited me to sollicit it earnestly from you, as well as to be

Very Respectfully Sir, Your most humble and obedient Servant

C. F. Gojon

RC (ViU: TJP); endorsed by TJ as received 27 May 1823 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with Dft of TJ to Bernard Peyton, 22 Nov. 1823, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Late President of the United States, &ca &ca Montichello—Near Charlotteville”; franked; postmarked Hyde Park, 12 May.

Claudius F. Gojon (b. ca. 1795), educator, arrived in New York City in 1822 from Bordeaux, France. Later the same year he advertised his services as a French-language instructor in Philadelphia. After spending two years at an academy in Hyde Park, New York, in 1824 Gojon announced his intention to teach French, Spanish, and Italian in New York City, citing his “several years” of experience teaching at the Université de France. He married in New York in 1825, but the state chancery court annulled the union after ruling that Gojon had fraudulently coerced the bride at the wedding, from which she had immediately fled. Gojon married again in Alabama in 1840 (DNA: RG 36, PLVNY; Philadelphia Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, 14 Sept. 1822; New-York Evening Post, 17 Nov. 1824, 10 Jan. 1825; Samuel M. Hopkins, Reports of Cases, Argued and Determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of New York [1827], 1:478–95; Mobile Co., Ala., Marriage Records [27 Apr. 1840]).

Index Entries

  • Allen’s Academy (Hyde Park, N.Y.) search
  • Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen; as reference search
  • Gojon, Claudius F.; identified search
  • Gojon, Claudius F.; letter from search
  • Gojon, Claudius F.; seeks professorship search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; letters of application and recommendation to search
  • patronage; letters of application and recommendation to TJ search
  • schools and colleges; Allen’s Academy (Hyde Park, N.Y.) search
  • schools and colleges; Université de France search
  • Université de France search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; and faculty recruitment search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; faculty applicants search
  • Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; modern languages professorship search