United States. A Document Signed by 21st President of the United States Chester A. Arthur

C. 1885. A framed promotional document to Meredith Jones, promoting him to “Surgeon, with the relative rank of Lieutenant”, signed by US President Chester A. Arthur and US Secretary of the Navy, William E. Chandler. The award document is largely pre-printed, but is completed with pen in the areas left blank. 

It reads “Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Meredith D. Jones  I have nominated, and by and with the advice consent of the Senate, do appoint him Surgeon, with the relative rank of Lieutenant from the 11th day of April 1884 in the service of the United States. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Surgeon by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge, and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Surgeon. And he is to observe and follow such orders and restrictions, from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States of America, or the General, or other superior Officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of War. This Commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. Given under my hand, at Washington this second day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty five and in the one hundred and ninth year of the Independence of the United States”.

It is signed by the 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur, as well as Secretary of the Navy, William E. Chandler. It bears a seal along the bottom of the award page, as well as a print of an eagle in flight clenching laurel leaves in one claw and a bushel of lightning bolts in the other, along with a coat of arms along the bottom third of the document. The frame is constructed of wood with a silver outer rim and a paper backer on the reverse, it is marked “Avondale Galleries, Custom Framing, Condale Road, Wallingford, Pa, TR. 6-2397” with a brown sticker and golden embossed lettering. It measures approximately 47.5 cm (l) x 38 cm (w), inside its frame, in overall extremely fine condition. 

Footnote: Chester Alan Arhtur (October 5th, 1829 - November 18th, 1886) served as the 21st president of the United States from 1881 to 1885, and previously as the 20th vice president under President James A. Garfield. William Eaton Chandler (December 28th, 1835 - November 30th, 1917), more commonly known as Bill Chandler, was a lawyer who served as United States Secretary of the Navy and as a US Senator from New Hampshire.