James K. Polk Document Signed as President Partly-printed... Lot 16

James K. Polk Document Signed as President Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 15 x 17.75, November 7, 1846. President Polk appoints James Hamilton as "an Assistant Surgeon in the Navy." Neatly signed at the conclusion in ink by President James K. Polk, and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy John Y. Mason. The white paper seal affixed at the bottom remains intact. In fine condition. James Hamilton (ca. 1826-1854) served on at least four different ships during his exciting 12-year career in the U.S. Navy, which was cut short by his death at sea. He served on the USS Preble that sailed to Africa gathering intelligence about civil wars and the slave trade, the frigate Potomac that was part of Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s siege and bombardment of Vera Cruz, Mexico, the steamer Mississippi that cruised the Mediterranean Sea then headed for Turkey to pick up a political fugitive, and the USS Susquehanna that was part of Perry’s famous expedition to Japan to force trade with the U.S. Hamilton died aboard the Susquehanna and was buried at a temple in Shimoda, Japan.