To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 9 May 1803

From Robert Smith

Navy depmt.
May 9. 1803

Sir,

I have the honor to present for your approbation,

	Pascal Paoli Peck,	of Rhode Island,
	James Marshall	of Virginia, &
	Robert Gamble	of Pensya.

to be Midshipmen in the Navy.—

Mr. Peck is highly recommended by Governor Fenner and others; Mr. Marshall, by Colonels Taylor & New, and Mr. Gamble, by Capt. Jones, Mr. Muhlenburgh, Mr. Beckley and other Gentlemen of Phila.—

Should you approve of these nominations, the enclosed warrants will require your signature.—

With high Consideration, I am Sir; yr mo: ob: Servt.

Rt Smith

RC (DLC); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Smith; at foot of text: “The President”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Navy Department on 9 May and “Midshipmen” and so recorded in SJL. FC (Lb in DNA: RG 45, LSP).

Pascal Paoli peck, James marshall, and Robert gamble would each see extensive service as midshipmen in the Mediterranean. Peck participated in the attack on Derna in 1805, Marshall served on board the frigates Essex and Constitution, and Gamble was taken prisoner following the capture of the Philadelphia by Tripoli in October 1803 (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939–44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801–1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , Register, 19–20, 35, 42).

Index Entries

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Jefferson Papers
Title: To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 9 May 1803
Author: Smith, Robert
Recipient: Jefferson, Thomas
Date: 9 May 1803

Reference

Cite as: “To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 9 May 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-40-02-0256. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 40, 4 March–10 July 1803, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013, p. 343.]

More between these correspondents