John Martin Baker to Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1805
From John Martin Baker
Palma, Island of Majorca / 28th. August 1805.
Sir,
With the hope, and probability, that the Port of Mahon, will at some period be considered, and prove useful to the United States Navy within the Mediterranean, I have taken the liberty, and do herewith solicit the favor of your acceptance of a perspective view of the same; I have had taken purposely; inspired with the pleasing idea, that it may meet your favorable acception, I have the honor to be with the highest Respect,
Sir, Your most obedient, humble, Servant.
John Martin Baker.
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “To the Right Honorable Thomas Jefferson President of the United States of America &c. &c. &c. Washington”; endorsed by TJ as received 11 Feb. 1806 and so recorded in SJL. Tripl (MHi); at head of text: “Triplicate”; endorsed by TJ as received 7 June 1806 and so recorded in SJL.
TJ appointed John Martin Baker (d. 1841) U.S. consul for Minorca, Majorca, and Ibiza in early 1803 after receiving several recommendations in his favor. A native of Minorca and a naturalized U.S. citizen, Baker went on to a long and varied career with the State Department, including service as a dispatch courier, a clerk, and in subsequent consular appointments in Brazil and Cuba. Using the experience gained during his years in the Mediterranean and Europe, Baker published A View of the Commerce of the Mediterranean in 1819, a copy of which he sent to TJ (Daily National Intelligencer, 21, 23 July 1841; , 10:82n; , 1:346n; 11:659-63; 14:96, 101; Vol. 38:263–4).
Baker’s letter to TJ was enclosed in a similarly worded one to Madison, also dated 28 Aug., which accompanied two copies of his perspective view of the port of Mahón. In a postscript, Baker asked Madison to deliver his letter and one of the views to the president (, 10:252).