Commission of General Washington

Accession number:
1981.01

Maker:
N/A

Historical period:
1775

Miltary branch:

Wars and Conflicts:

Type:
,

Dimensions:
H x W: 8.5 in. / 16 in.

Acquisition date:
ca. 1981

Credit line:
Gift of the family of Colonel Franklin Q. Brown

Location:
, ,

Provenance:

From 1783: Acquired by the Society of the Cincinnati in Georgia

From 1933: Bought by Col. Franklin Q. Brown (1906-1981)

From ca. 1981: The Army and Navy Club, gift of the family of Colonel Franklin Q. Brown

Label:

The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army on June 19, 1775. Washington was selected over other candidates such as John Hancock based on his previous military experience and the hope that a leader from Virginia could help unite the colonies. Washington left for Massachusetts within days of receiving his commission and assumed command of the Continental Army in Cambridge on July 3, 1775. After eight years of war, Washington resigned his commission as Commander in Chief on December 23, 1783.