Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on Staten Island, New York, May 27, 1794. He went to New York city early in life, and engaged in the shipping business, in which, by his energy and perseverance, he in time acquired wealth, and became owner of several lines of steamers, running from New York to places along the coast. In 1851 he established a line of steamers to California, and in 1855 another to Europe. In March, 1862, he presented to the United States Government the magnificent ship which bore his name, for which generous gift Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He was made president of the New York and Harlem Railroad Company in May, 1863; of the Hudson River Railroad Company in June, 1865; and of the New York Central Railroad Company in December, 1867. In November, 1869, the two last were consolidated, with a joint capital of ninety millions of dollars. He died in the city of New York, January 4, 1877. Cornelius Vanderbilt was, at the time of his death, one of the richest men in the world. Among his charities was a gift of one million dollars to the "Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South," in Nashville, Tennessee, which, in consequence of this munificence, was named, in honor of him, Vanderbilt University. He was known by the sobriquet of "Commodore."
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Whereas, Cornelius Vanderbilt of New York, did, during the spring of 1862, make a free gift to his imperilled country of his new and staunch steamship "Vanderbilt," of five thousand tons burthen, built by him with the greatest care, of the best materials, at a cost of eight hundred thousand dollars, which steamship has ever since been actively employed in the service of the republic against the rebel devastations of her commerce; and
Whereas, The said Cornelius Vanderbilt has in no manner sought any requital of this magnificent gift, nor any official recognition thereof; therefore,
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be presented to Cornelius Vanderbilt for this unique manifestation of a fervid and large-souled patriotism.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, which shall fitly embody an attestation of the nation's gratitude for this gift; which medal shall be forwarded to Cornelius Vanderbilt, a copy of it being made and deposited for preservation in the library of Congress.
Approved January 28, 1864.
The Secretary of State to Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Department of State,
Washington, April 17, 1866.
To
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Esq.,
New York.
Sir: I have to inform you that the Congress of the United States, by a resolution of the 28th of January, 1864, an attested copy of which is herewith sent, offered you their thanks for your generous gift to the nation during the last war, of the steamer "Vanderbilt," and requested the President to cause a gold medal to be struck and forwarded to you, commemorative of that gift. It is now my pleasing duty to forward the medal to you accordingly. I avail myself of the occasion to express a hope that it may prove acceptable, and also to congratulate you upon the proud consciousness, which you cannot fail to cherish, of having, by the act referred to, rendered your country a signal service at a critical period in its history.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
William H. Seward.
Cornelius Vanderbilt to the Secretary of State.
New York, May 3rd, 1866.
To the Honorable
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Sir: Your communication of the 17th of April ult., informing me that the Congress of the United States had, by their resolution of the 28th of January, 1864, tendered to me their thanks for the gift of the steamer "Vanderbilt," and requested the President to cause a gold medal to be struck and forwarded to me in commemoration of the gift, has been placed in my hands.
I have also received the medal, together with an attested copy of the resolution in compliance with which you have caused it to be transmitted.
You have been pleased to express the hope that the medal would be acceptable to me, with your congratulations for the consciousness which you consider I cannot fail to cherish of having, by the act which its presentation commemorates, rendered a service to my country at a critical period in its history.
Permit me, Sir, to return my acknowledgment for this national recognition of the act referred to, and to express the satisfaction with which I have received this generous token of remembrance. It may not be inappropriate for me to refer to the transaction which gave rise to the resolve of Congress which your Department has now so gracefully executed.
About the year 1856, I formed the design and commenced the work of a steamship for the purpose of demonstrating that individual enterprise could, without the aid of governmental encouragement, place upon the ocean steamships equal at least in magnitude, power and speed, to any which had been constructed under governmental patronage and protection in any part of the world. An expenditure of about one million of dollars produced the steamship "Vanderbilt," which carried the flag of our country across the sea in a lesser space of time than any national banner had been hitherto borne.
On the 16th of March, 1862, I received at my residence in this city a letter from the War Department enquiring if I would undertake to prevent the Confederate steamer "Merrimac" from coming out of the harbor of Norfolk, and urging my immediate attention, as the danger was most imminent and "there was no time to be lost." I answered by telegraph that I would go to Washington the next day. On the morning of the 17th of March I called at the War Department, where I saw for the first time Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of War. He requested me to accompany him to the executive mansion, where I was introduced to Mr. Lincoln, to whom I was then personally a stranger. The President asked me if I thought I could, with the aid of my steamships, do anything to prevent the "Merrimac" from getting out of Hampton Roads. I replied to him that it was my opinion that if the steamship "Vanderbilt" was there properly manned, the "Merrimac" would not venture to come out, or if she did, the chances were ten to one that the "Vanderbilt" would sink and destroy her. Mr. Lincoln asked me to name the sum of money for which I would undertake the service; I replied to him that nothing would induce me to become a speculator upon the necessities of the government, and that I would not mention a sum as the value of her charter, but that I would make a gift of her to the government for the service proposed. The President replied, "I accept her." I left him promising that the "Vanderbilt" should be at Fortress Monroe properly equipped and officered under my direction within three or four days at the farthest, and she was there within the time. The requisite instrument of transfer was subsequently executed by me and transmitted to the War Department.
The resolution of Congress of which you have informed me truly states that I have in no manner sought requital for the gift, and the recognition of it, which in the discharge of your official duty you have given me, was altogether unsolicited. I shall proudly preserve the splendid token of appreciation which you have transmitted to me, and it is my hope that those who come after me, as they read the inscriptions of the medal and are reminded of the event in their father's life which caused it to be struck, will inflexibly resolve that should our Government be again imperilled, no pecuniary sacrifice is too large to make in its behalf, and no inducement sufficiently great to attempt to profit by its necessities.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
C. Vanderbilt.
April 16, 1865—March 4, 1869.
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States 1865. ℞. Peace.
PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON.
[Seventeenth President of the United States of America.]
ANDREW JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1865. Undraped bust of President Johnson, facing the right PAQUET, F. (fecit).
America is giving her hand to an Indian chief, before a mausoleum, upon which, in a crown of laurel, is the word PEACE. The mausoleum is surmounted by a small undraped bust of Washington, facing the right; to the left, at the feet of the Indian, are the attributes of savage life, and behind him a buffalo hunt; to the right, at the feet of America, are the emblems of civilization, and behind her a railway train. PAQUET. F. (fecit).
Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, December 29, 1808. He settled in Greenville, Tennessee, 1826; was a member of the State Legislature, 1835 and 1839; State senator, 1841; member of Congress, 1843-1853; governor of Tennessee, 1853-1857; and United States senator, 1857-1863. He remained true to the Union when his State seceded, and was appointed military-governor of Tennessee, 1864; became vice-president of the United States, March 4, 1865; President, after the assassination of President Lincoln, April 16, 1865-1869. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate of the United States in 1870, and for Congress in 1871; but was elected to the Senate in 1875. He died July 31, 1875, near Elizabethtown, Carter County, Tennessee.
December, 1853.
By Joint resolution of Congress to the rescuers of the passengers officers and men of steamship San Francisco, etc. ℞. July 26 1866.
WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP SAN FRANCISCO.
[Testimonial of National Gratitude.]
BY JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS TO THE RESCUERS OF THE PASSENGERS OFFICERS AND MEN OF STEAMSHIP SAN FRANCISCO WRECKED DEC. (December) 1853. TESTIMONIAL OF NATIONAL GRATITUDE FOR HIS GALLANT CONDUCT. America, personified as a female, seated, and with the eagle, fasces, and shield at her left, crowns with a wreath of laurel a sailor, who is kneeling before her; to the right, the United States capitol; to the left, a ship at anchor. PAQUET. F. (fecit).
Thirty-nine stars; a man and a woman on a raft at sea; a ship coming to their rescue. On the raft, PAQUET. F. (fecit). Exergue: JULY 26 1866—An anchor and a branch of laurel.[120]
As this medal was not voted by Congress until 1866, it is placed here according to the chronological order adopted.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to Captains Creighton, Low, and Stouffer.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: Section 1. That the President of the United States be requested to procure three valuable gold medals with suitable devices, one to be presented to Captain Creighton, of the ship Three Bells, of Glasgow; one to Captain Low, of the bark Kilby, of Boston; and one to Captain Stouffer, of the ship Antar(c)tic, as testimonials of national gratitude for their gallant conduct in rescuing about five hundred Americans from the wreck of the steamship San Francisco; and that the cost of the same be paid for out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars each is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the above named captains respectively, as a reward of their humanity and heroism in the rescue of the survivors of the said wreck, and in case either of the said captains may have died, then the amount hereby appropriated shall be paid to the widow of said deceased captain respectively; if no widow surviving, then to the respective child or children of such deceased captain; and in the event of there being no child or children of said deceased captain surviving, then the amount hereby appropriated shall be paid first, to the father, or if the father be not living, then to the mother of such deceased captain respectively.
Section 3. And be it further resolved, That there shall be paid to each mate of the three above-named vessels the sum of five hundred dollars, and to each man and boy the sum of one hundred dollars, and in case of the death of the respective mate or mates, or men or boys, that the said respective sums shall be paid in the same way and under the same conditions as the payment is to be made in case of the death of the respective captains.
Approved July 26th, 1866.
Major Wyse to the Adjutant-General of the Army.
Fort Wood
New York Harbor, January 14th, 1854.
To
Colonel S. Cooper,
Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.
Colonel: I have the honor to enclose the above[121] informal report, for the information of the proper authorities, with the following remark: We were wrecked about 7 a.m. of the 24th of December, 1853 (Saturday), the sea sweeping overboard Brevet Colonel Washington, Brevet Major Taylor, Brevet Captain Field, Lieutenant Smith, and about 120 men. We were much disabled and leaking a great deal, mostly under our guards, which were all broken up. On the 28th of December, 1853, we put on board the bark Kilby, bound for Boston, Colonel Gates, Major Merchant, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Burke, Doctors Saterlee and Wirtz, Captain Judd, Captain Gardner, Lieutenant Fremont, Lieutenant Loeser and Lieutenant Van Voast, with all the ladies and their children, and about fifty men. Lieutenants William A. Winder, Charles Winder, J. G. Chandler and myself, with the rest of the men remained on board the wreck.
I continued the disembarkation until about 8 p.m. the same day, when the weather forced us to stop, and that night we parted with the bark in a gale. On Friday night, the 30th of December, 1853, we fell in with the English ship "Three Bells," Captain Creighton, who after finding our condition stuck by us most nobly, until the sea calmed sufficiently to take our men off, which was on Tuesday morning the 3d of January, 1854. At this time the ship "Antarctic" of Liverpool came to our relief and also commenced taking off our men. We continued this disembarkation throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, and on Wednesday evening, about 6 p.m., having removed every man, woman and child of my command, I embarked myself on board the "Three Bells." The commander of the San Francisco, Captain Watkins, with his officers and crew, remained on the wreck that night, and left the next morning about 10 a.m., after which we parted with the wreck, the ship "Antarctic" steaming for Liverpool, and our ship the "Three Bells" for New York, where I have the happiness to inform you we arrived last evening. Words cannot express the gratitude we owe to Captain Creighton for laying by us so faithfully during so many stormy days, his ship disabled in the storm which wrecked us, and leaking at the rate of four inches per hour, and to whom I trust our government may make some suitable testimonial. Our own captain also behaved throughout the whole trouble with the most untiring courage, energy and perseverance. Both of our surgeons being on the bark Kilby, I don't know what we should have done had it not been for the accidental presence of Doctor Buell, a citizen physician, who labored incessantly night and day to alleviate the sufferings of our numerous sick, who were dying hourly with the cholera, and to make things still worse the small pox made its appearance on board. All our hospital stores were swept overboard the morning of the wreck, with the exception of two or three boxes of brandy and wine, and a little opium.
I feel that I would be doing injustice to Lieutenants Charles S. Winder, James Van Voast, and J. G. Chandler, did I not recommend them to the favorable notice of the President, for their untiring and noble exertions, night and day for ten successive days, in keeping the ship clear of water, and mingling among the sick and desponding men, to minister to their wants and cheer them up with hope. The other officer with me, Lieutenant Wm. A. Winder, was sick nearly all the time and that prevented him from rendering the services which otherwise he would have done. I am also happy to say that under the most trying circumstances, my non-commissioned officers and men behaved well.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. O. Wyse,
Captain and Brevet Major 3d Artillery, commanding.
Consolidated Morning Report of Companies A, B, D, G, H, I, K and L, of the 3d Artillery.
Stationed at Fort Wood, New York Harbor, January 14, 1854.
| Number of Companies. | Letters of Companies. | Present for Duty. | Present Sick. | Absent. | Absent Sick. | Dead. | Total Present. | Total Present, Absent and Dead. | Commissioned Officers Present. | Aggregate. | REMARKS. | |
| Field and Staff | 1 | Lieutenant C. Winder and Sergeant Major Gorham embarked for Liverpool. | ||||||||||
| Regimental Band | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 22 | 7 embarked for Liverpool. | ||||
| 1 | A | 17 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 54 | 54 | 2 embarked on board the bark Kilby for Boston, and 26 for Liverpool. | ||
| 2 | B | 12 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 31 | 14 | 68 | 68 | 23 embarked for Liverpool. | ||
| 3 | D | 21 | 4 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 25 | 56 | 1 | 57 | 9 embarked for Boston, and 15 for Liverpool. | |
| 4 | G | 14 | 23 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 55 | 1 | 56 | 2 privates embarked on board the bark Kilby for Boston, and 21 for Liverpool. | ||
| 5 | H | 11 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 51 | 51 | 24 embarked for Liverpool, and 2 for Boston. | ||
| 6 | I | 10 | 1 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 46 | 46 | 29 embarked for Boston, and 4 for Liverpool. | ||
| 7 | K | 12 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 36 | 13 | 57 | 57 | 1 private embarked on board the bark Kilby for Boston, and 7 for Liverpool. | ||
| 8 | L | 16 | 1 | 16 | 41 | 17 | 74 | 74 | 16 embarked for Liverpool. | |||
| —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | —— | ||||
| Total | 120 | 12 | 174 | 18 | 160 | 132 | 483 | 2 | 485 | |||
Colonel Gates to the Adjutant-General of the Army.
Headquarters, 30 Artillery,
New York City, Jan. 16, 1854.
To
Colonel S. Cooper,
Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.
Colonel: I have the honor to report my arrival in this city, with a remnant of my regiment.
As you are already aware I embarked on the 22d of December last, with eight companies of my regiment, on the steamship San Francisco for California. On the 24th December, when about three hundred miles from New York, the engine of the ship gave way, and in a few hours a heavy sea boarded her, carrying away the entire upper cabin, and with it four officers and about two hundred enlisted men, the wife of Major Taylor, my eldest son, and a number of citizen passengers.
Every exertion was now made by both officers and men to assist the crew in keeping the ship afloat; by clearing her of water and throwing overboard freight.
A constant succession of gales continued for four days, rendering it almost certain (to human foresight) that she must go down. But by the merciful goodness of God we were preserved, and I am happy to inform you that all the survivors have been taken from the wreck and are now in this harbor, and on the ship "Antarctic" for Liverpool, except eighteen men that volunteered to remain, and help work the old bark Kilby into port.
On the 27th of December the bark Kilby of Boston hove in sight, and her noble commander, Captain Low, said he would lay by us until the sea would permit him to remove us on board his vessel. On the 28th, the sea having in a measure become quiet, he came alongside, sent his boats and removed all the ladies, children, passengers (citizens), a number of officers, and about fifty soldiers, when suddenly a squall of wind separated the two vessels, parting the hawser by which they were attached, and continued to blow all night a violent gale. This squall came on so suddenly that my quarter-master and acting adjutant, 1st Lieutenant Fremont, who came on board the bark for a few hours to urge the sailors on to renewed exertions, and offer them large inducements to work the boats all night, was left on the bark unable to get back.
Brevet Major Wyse, the senior officer, undisabled, was, by my orders, detailed to superintend the transfer of troops, and was thus left in command of those remaining on the wreck. For two days and nights the gale continued, and though we tried constantly to regain the wreck, it was found impossible to do so, with the old bark in her crippled condition, and as we were put on an allowance of bread and water, it was finally resolved to make if possible an American port.
We drifted before the wind for fifteen days, and were at last, after living on parched corn five days, taken off by the packet ship Lucy Thompson, of this port, Captain Pendleton, a noble hearted sailor.
I cannot close this brief report without expressing my high admiration of the noble conduct of every undisabled officer, and most of the men. Brevet Major Wyse, Captain Judd, my only staff officer (quartermaster and acting adjutant), 1st Lieutenant Fremont, who, in addition to his own duties, served at the pumps, 1st Lieutenant Loeser, acting Commissary, 1st Lieutenant W. A. Winder, 2d Lieutenants C. S. Winder, Van Voast, and Chandler.
These officers, some of them though slightly disabled, never faltered in their duty, working day and night at the pumps and elsewhere, and I would specially notice the three 2d lieutenants who, being unencumbered with the cares of family, labored unremittingly, and deserve the highest praise.
My regiment is broken up and disorganized, and it will be many months before it can take the field successfully. We were all anxious to reach California; our "all" was embarked in the expedition, and by the providence of God it has been swept away, and we are now penniless and destitute. We claim that our tour of duty in California has been performed, by every military principle, we have suffered more in the last three weeks than we could, ordinarily, during a five-year tour in California. "We have marched off parade," sought our destination, and been crushed, cruelly crushed, and we now ask that due consideration be shown us.
I further request that the officers of companies "B" and "L" now under orders for California be directed to report to me in this city for duty, with the remnants of those companies.
The officers lost are Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, Brevet Major George Taylor, Brevet Captain H. B. Field, and 1st Lieutenant R. H. Smith.
As soon as possible a detailed report with a return of the survivors will be made to you.
The troops taken off by the "Kilby" and "Three Bells" are at Bedloe's Island.
I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
William Gates,
Colonel commanding.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Acts of Congress Voting Eight Months' Pay to Lieutenant Francis Key Murray and others.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: That there shall be paid, under the direction of the President, to each of the officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, who, on the twenty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, embarked at New York, under orders to California, on the steamship San Francisco, and who was on board the vessel on the occasion of her recent disaster at sea, and to Lieutenant Francis Key Murray, and any other officer or seaman of the United States Navy, who was on board the said steamship, under orders, a sum equal in amount to his pay and allowance for eight months.
Section 2. And be it further enacted, That if any such officer, non-commissioned officer, musician or private, shall have died before receiving such payment, from any cause consequent upon said disaster, his widow, if one survive him, and if not, then his minor children, if any there be, shall be paid a sum equal in amount to six months' pay, and allowances of the deceased; and that the widows and minor children of those officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, who perished by this disaster, or who died from disease in consequence thereof, shall be allowed pensions in the same manner in all respects as if the said officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates had been killed in battle.
Approved March 27th, 1854.
Section 3. And be it further enacted, That the amount which it may be found necessary to pay under the act of twenty-seventh March, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, to the widows and orphans of United States troops, who perished by the recent disaster to the steamship San Francisco, be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved August 5th, 1854.
1866.
Honor and fame are the reward. ℞. By resolution of the Congress of the United States. March 2, 1867. to Cyrus W. Field, of New York, etc.
CYRUS WEST FIELD.
[Laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable.]
Within a circle formed by a telegraphic cable: HONOR AND FAME ARE THE REWARD. On clouds in the midst of sunbeams the undraped bust of Cyrus West Field, facing the left. A hand from above places a crown on his head; below is the Atlantic Ocean; two ships going in opposite directions are paying out the cable; to the left, the western hemisphere, AMERICA; to the right, the eastern hemisphere, EUROPE; beneath, in a band formed by the Atlantic cable and a chain uniting the two worlds, INDOMITABLE PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURING FAITH ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS, J. G. BRUFF D. (delineavit.) BARBER F. (fecit).
Within an endless chain: BY RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. MARCH 2, 1867. TO CYRUS W. (West) FIELD, OF NEW YORK FOR HIS FORESIGHT, FAITH, AND PERSISTENCY, IN ESTABLISHING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION, BY MEANS OF THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH, CONNECTING THE OLD WITH THE NEW WORLD. To the left, the American shield; to the right, a star formed of thirty-one smaller stars; below, the terrestrial globe, showing AMERICA and EUROPE, surrounded with electric sparks, surmounted by a torch and a caduceus crossed, and resting on branches of laurel and of oak.
J. Goldsborough Bruff was in 1872 one of the designing artists attached to the Treasury Department in Washington. He designed the face of this medal.
William Barber, at present engraver to the United States Mint in Philadelphia, was born in London, England. The principal medals engraved by him are those of Cyrus W. Field, Elliot, Rittenhouse, James Pollock, Joseph Pancoast, and Dr. Linderman.
Cyrus West Field was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, November 30, 1819. He went to New York city at the age of fifteen, and entered a commercial house. He was one of the first promoters of an Atlantic telegraph, and founded the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company in 1854; organized the Atlantic Telegraph Company in 1856; and took a leading part in the various attempts to lay a transatlantic cable. He received a vote of thanks and a gold medal from Congress for the final success of this great undertaking. He is still living.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Cyrus W. Field.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to Cyrus W. Field of New York, for his foresight, courage and determination in establishing telegraphic communication by means of the Atlantic cable, traversing mid-ocean and connecting the Old World with the New; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscription, to be presented to Mr. Field.
And be it further resolved, That when the medal shall have been struck, the President shall cause a copy of this joint resolution to be engrossed on parchment, and shall transmit the same, together with the medal, to Mr. Field to be presented to him in the name of the people of the United States of America.
And further, That a sufficient sum of money to carry this resolution into effect is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved March 2, 1867.
The Secretary of State to Cyrus W. Field.
Department of State,
Washington, January 7, 1869.
To
Cyrus W. Field, Esq.,
New York.
Sir: Pursuant to the resolution of Congress of March 2, 1867, the President has caused to be prepared, for presentation to you, in the name of the people of the United States, a gold medal, with suitable devices and inscriptions, in acknowledgment of your eminent services in the establishment of telegraphic communication, by means of the Atlantic cable, between the Old World and the New.
This testimonial, together with an engrossed copy of the resolution referred to, is herewith transmitted to you by direction of the President.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
William H. Seward.
February 7, 1867.
℞. The people of the United States to George Peabody, etc.
GEORGE PEABODY.
[Promotion of Universal Education.]
Bust of George Peabody, facing the left.
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO GEORGE PEABODY IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS BENEFICENT PROMOTION OF UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.[122]
This is not, properly speaking, a medal, but rather a medallion forming the center of a piece of gold plate, the work of Messrs. Starr and Marcus, goldsmiths, of New York. A female figure, representing Benevolence, leans over the medallion on the right, holding in her right hand a branch of laurel, while with her left she points to the bust of George Peabody. On the opposite side, under a palmetto tree, are two children, the one white, the other a negro, typical of education in the Southern States. The group is placed upon a pedestal of solid gold, in the center of which are the arms of the United States of America in enamel, resting upon two branches, one of oak, the other of laurel. To the right, BENEVOLENCE; to the left, EDUCATION. On the reverse of the pedestal, beneath the medallion, are a globe, books, a map of the United States, a square, a compass, etc., emblems of Art, Science, and Education. This piece of plate is eight inches high, six inches wide, and its depth is an inch and a half. The allegorical figures are modeled and finely chased, and the portrait in the medallion is in alto relievo.
George Peabody was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, February 18, 1795. In 1806 he began life as an apprentice to a grocer. He afterward entered into partnership with Mr. Elisha Riggs, in Baltimore, and when the latter retired from business, in 1830, he became the head of the house; in 1843 he settled in London as a banker. In 1852 he gave $200,000 for the foundation of a free library and educational institute in Danvers; and in 1857 he founded in Baltimore the Peabody Institute, to which he gave $1,000,000. He also contributed, at various times, $2,500,000, for the amelioration of the condition of the London poor. The freedom of the city of London was presented to him, and Queen Victoria offered him a baronetcy or the grand cross of the Order of the Bath, both of which honors he respectfully declined. Her Majesty then wrote him a private letter of thanks, and sent him, in March, 1866, a beautiful miniature portrait of herself. During a visit to America, in 1867, he made a gift of $2,000,000 to promote education in the Southern States, for which Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal; and on April 13, 1868, Massachusetts passed an act changing the name of his native town, Danvers, to Peabody. He returned to England, and died in London, November 4, 1869. A funeral service was performed over his body in Westminster Abbey, November 12; and in December it was, by order of Her Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain, taken on board the iron-clad turret ship-of-war Monarch, Captain Comerell, C. B., V. C. (Knight Companion of the Bath,[123] Victoria Cross), and conveyed to America under escort, by order of President Grant, of the United States screw sloop-of-war Plymouth, Commander Macomb. It was landed in Portland, Maine, January 26, 1870, and was deposited, February 8, 1870, in the memorial church erected to his mother at Peabody, amid an immense concourse of people, among whom were Prince Arthur of England, the governors of Maine and Massachusetts, and numerous deputations. The bronze statue of Mr. Peabody, by Story, erected by the citizens of London behind the Royal Exchange, was unveiled in presence of the Prince of Wales, July 23, 1869.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to George Peabody.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to George Peabody of Massachusetts, for his great and peculiar beneficence in giving a large sum of money, amounting to two million dollars, for the promotion of education in the more destitute portions of the Southern and Southwestern States, the benefits of which, according to his direction, are to be distributed among the entire population without any distinction, except what may be found in needs or opportunities of usefulness.
And be it further resolved, That it shall be the duty of the President to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable devices and inscriptions, which, together with a copy of these resolutions, shall be presented to Mr. Peabody in the name of the people of the United States.
And further, That a sufficient amount of money to carry this resolution into effect is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved March 16, 1867.