2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2020
DAVID PORTER (1780-1843). United States Navy officer with the rank of Captain and the honorary title of Commodore. Porter commanded a number of U.S. naval ships, including the famous USS Constitution and saw service in the First Barbary War, the War of 1812, and in the West Indies. War of 1812 dated Autograph Letter Signed, "D. Porter" as Commodore of the Navy, written at Washington, to Thomas Morris Esq., 1pp. quarto, sent with Integral Postal Mail Cover to: Thomas Morris Esqr. - New York" and with Free Franked: "D Porter N(ava)L Comd" at the upper right. This Letter, written fully by the hand of David Porter, is regarding the vessel "Demologos," which was designed to a unique pattern by Robert Fulton, and was renamed "Fulton" after his death, being the First Warship to be Propelled by a Steam Engine. It reads in most part: "..."Dear Sir --- I have received your interesting favor of the 20th and by now to return you my sincere thanks for the information in contains. I have shown it to Comr. Thayers and he, as well as myself, accords fully with you as to the course that should be pursued with respect to the Fulton the 1st....Thus far the experiment has equaled our most sanguine expectations, and we should not cease until we make it compleat. The President and all the heads of the Departments are now absent from this place, nothing in regard to that vessel can be done until they return, when I shall have every effort to carry your views into execution, and shall be happy to favor the virtues of my friend Lewis in which I shall have the aid of Comr (Commander) Th (Thayers) -- be pleased to accept my best wishes.." Fine condition. Renamed, "Fulton the 1st" upon Robert Fulton's death in February of 1815, by the time she was completed, the War of 1812 for which Demologos had been built had ended. She saw only One Day of active service, when she carried President James Monroe on a tour of New York Harbor. A two-masted lateen rig was added by the orders of her first Commander, Captain David Porter. On March 9th, 1814, the United States Congress authorized the construction of a Steam Warship to be designed by Robert Fulton, a pioneer of commercial steamers in North America. The construction of the ship began on June 20, 1814, at the civilian yard of Adam and Noah Brown, and the ship was launched on October 29th. After sea trials she was delivered to the United States Navy in June 1816. The ship was never formally named, although Robert Fulton christened it "Demologos" or "Demologus," though following his death in February 1815, the ship was named "Fulton the 1st". She was a wooden floating battery built to defend New York Harbor from the British Royal Navy during the War of 1812. The vessel was designed to a unique pattern by Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 - February 24, 1815). Because of the prompt end of the War of 1812, the ship never saw action, and there was never another like her built. From 1815 to 1822, he was a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners in Washington, but then gave up this post to command the expedition for suppressing piracy in the West Indies (1823-25). Here, Commodore David Porter, her First Captain and Commander, suggests his approval for going forwards with the Fulton design. An outstanding historic content, piece of American Naval History and regarding the Robert Fulton Steam Powered Warship "Demologos," which was the First Warship to be Propelled by a Steam Engine!
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