MCKEEVER, ISAAC. 1791-1856. Archive of correspondence and documents relating to the career of Captain Isaac McKeever, U.S. Navy, comprising: 1. Manuscript letter book containing copies of correspondence, orders and notes, dating from November 1815 to 1827. Tall folio (320 x 197 mm). Half calf and paper boards. Heavy wear to covers, browning, some leaves loose. 2. Clipperton Rock, watercolor on paper, 177 x 255 mm, with manuscript ink captions, "... As seen by H.M.S. Inconstant, John Shepperd Esq., Captn., on the 13th July 1850." 3. Autograph Letter Signed ("McKeever"), to Dr. [Joshua] Cohen, 2 pp recto and verso, bifolium 4to, Buenos Aires, August 31, 1832, browned, fold creases, wax seal to exterior. A cordial personal letter to a friend. 4. Manuscript document, being a letter of thanks to McKeever from American residents of Buenos Aires, 2 pp, folio, Buenos Aires, November 23, 1833, fold creases, loss at one corner in margin. 5. Manuscript map of New Orleans, undated, 197 x 311 mm, in ink with red and blue hand-colored outlines. Separating at folds. 6. A group of 5 printed newspapers with reports on the Seminole War, including Poulson's Daily Advertiser, February 2, 3 and 4, 1819, Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot, July 25, 1820, The United States Telegraph, February 17, 1831. 7. A group of 7 publications related to the War of 1812, the Seminole War, and Andrew Jackson including 4 Congressional publications with messages from Presidents Monroe and Madison; Report of the Secretary of War, on the Petition of William Linnard, Military Agent for the Middle Department...., 1809; The Light of Truth: an Account of Some of the Deeds of Andrew Jackson 1828, an Anti-Jackson campaign pamphlet; and The Speech of the Hon. James Tallmadge, Jun. in the House of Representatives on the Seminole War, 1819. A unique record of the career of a heroic ship commander of the War of 1812, and personal friend of Andrew Jackson Among the transcripts contained in the letterbook are orders from Commodore Daniel T. Patterson, and Thomas Catesby Jones. A brief note to Patterson dated simply April 1816 states "I have the gratification to announce to you my arrival at this place with General Jackson and suite. The General accepts with much pleasure the polite offer of your boat and will wait for it at the fork." An order from Patterson dated April 22, 1816 instructs McKeever to proceed to the coast of South America, with a particular mission for "... the capture of a small schooner called the Creole, which ... committed several acts of piracy on American vessels ... commanded by a Frenchman named Bouli...." He later reports on capturing a pirate vessel, formerly the Spanish schooner Star, along with its captain and crew. McKeever was commissioned as a Midshipman in 1809 at 14 years old, and was promoted to Lieutenant during the War of 1812. He was placed in command of the Ketch Surprise on Lake Borgne, Louisiana, where a U.S. contingent of 5 gunboats was attacked and defeated by a British contingent of 42 on December 14, 1814. McKeever was severely wounded, but was the last to surrender his ship. He would serve 47 years in the Navy, being promoted to Commander in 1830, and Captain in 1838. He commanded the Brooklyn Navy Yard for three years, and then commanded a squadron stationed in Brazil, and finally was put in charge of the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. He remained on duty during an epidemic of yellow fever in 1856, despite being given the option to leave until the epidemic passed. He became a victim of the epidemic himself in April 1856, at the age of 64. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where the plaque on his grave reads "His Excellence has a monument more enduring than marble in the hearts of those who mourn his loss."
MCKEEVER, ISAAC. 1791-1856. Archive of correspondence and documents relating to the career of Captain Isaac McKeever, U.S. Navy, comprising: 1. Manuscript letter book containing copies of correspondence, orders and notes, dating from November 1815 to 1827. Tall folio (320 x 197 mm). Half calf and paper boards. Heavy wear to covers, browning, some leaves loose. 2. Clipperton Rock, watercolor on paper, 177 x 255 mm, with manuscript ink captions, "... As seen by H.M.S. Inconstant, John Shepperd Esq., Captn., on the 13th July 1850." 3. Autograph Letter Signed ("McKeever"), to Dr. [Joshua] Cohen, 2 pp recto and verso, bifolium 4to, Buenos Aires, August 31, 1832, browned, fold creases, wax seal to exterior. A cordial personal letter to a friend. 4. Manuscript document, being a letter of thanks to McKeever from American residents of Buenos Aires, 2 pp, folio, Buenos Aires, November 23, 1833, fold creases, loss at one corner in margin. 5. Manuscript map of New Orleans, undated, 197 x 311 mm, in ink with red and blue hand-colored outlines. Separating at folds. 6. A group of 5 printed newspapers with reports on the Seminole War, including Poulson's Daily Advertiser, February 2, 3 and 4, 1819, Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot, July 25, 1820, The United States Telegraph, February 17, 1831. 7. A group of 7 publications related to the War of 1812, the Seminole War, and Andrew Jackson including 4 Congressional publications with messages from Presidents Monroe and Madison; Report of the Secretary of War, on the Petition of William Linnard, Military Agent for the Middle Department...., 1809; The Light of Truth: an Account of Some of the Deeds of Andrew Jackson 1828, an Anti-Jackson campaign pamphlet; and The Speech of the Hon. James Tallmadge, Jun. in the House of Representatives on the Seminole War, 1819. A unique record of the career of a heroic ship commander of the War of 1812, and personal friend of Andrew Jackson Among the transcripts contained in the letterbook are orders from Commodore Daniel T. Patterson, and Thomas Catesby Jones. A brief note to Patterson dated simply April 1816 states "I have the gratification to announce to you my arrival at this place with General Jackson and suite. The General accepts with much pleasure the polite offer of your boat and will wait for it at the fork." An order from Patterson dated April 22, 1816 instructs McKeever to proceed to the coast of South America, with a particular mission for "... the capture of a small schooner called the Creole, which ... committed several acts of piracy on American vessels ... commanded by a Frenchman named Bouli...." He later reports on capturing a pirate vessel, formerly the Spanish schooner Star, along with its captain and crew. McKeever was commissioned as a Midshipman in 1809 at 14 years old, and was promoted to Lieutenant during the War of 1812. He was placed in command of the Ketch Surprise on Lake Borgne, Louisiana, where a U.S. contingent of 5 gunboats was attacked and defeated by a British contingent of 42 on December 14, 1814. McKeever was severely wounded, but was the last to surrender his ship. He would serve 47 years in the Navy, being promoted to Commander in 1830, and Captain in 1838. He commanded the Brooklyn Navy Yard for three years, and then commanded a squadron stationed in Brazil, and finally was put in charge of the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. He remained on duty during an epidemic of yellow fever in 1856, despite being given the option to leave until the epidemic passed. He became a victim of the epidemic himself in April 1856, at the age of 64. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where the plaque on his grave reads "His Excellence has a monument more enduring than marble in the hearts of those who mourn his loss."
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
