M-075: Pitt, William

DATE:  February 9, 1790

CREATOR: William Pitt (The Elder), British Secretary of State

LANGUAGE: English

EXTENT: One document, February 9, 1760. D. S.

SCOPE: Military appointment by George the Second of Great Britain for George Delaney as Lieutenant Fire Worker in Royal Irish Regiment of Artillery.

HISTORY: William Pitt (The Elder) (1708-1778), in his position in the British Cabinet as Secretary of State for the Southern Department, is signing a Commission for Lieutenant of Artillery for a George Delany. Pitt is actually signing the officer’s commission for the sovereign, King George II. Specifically, the commission is for Lieutenant-Fire Worker in the newly renamed The Royal Regiment of Irish Artillery.

View additional historical and biographical notes with references.

ACCESS: This is collection M-075. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.

RESTRICTIONS: None

Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Roman Beuc, St. Louis Mercantile Library Docent, for transcribing the letter as well as researching and compiling an extended history on the topic.

 

TRANSCRIPT

Please note that this transcript preserves the original spelling, grammar, and line breaks.

George R (Rex)                                                                               (February 9, 1760)

(Place for Royal Seal)

 

George the Second, by Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and Defender of the Faith. To our Truly and Welbeloved. Delany, George Gent, Lieutenant-Fire Worker to that Company, whereof Thomas DesBrisay, Esq is Captain, in a Regiment of Artillery to be forthwith formed in our Kingdom of Ireland, & commanded by our Right Trusty & Welbeloved Cousin & Councilor James, Earl of Kildare, & to be called Our Royal Irish Regiment of Artillery. You are therefore carefully & diligently to discharge the Duty of Lieutenant-Fire Worker by exercising & well disciplining the inferior Officers, Bombardiers, Gunners & Matrosses belonging to the said Company, in the use of Mortars, & the art of Gunnery, and they are hereby required to obey you as their Lieutenant-Fire Worker, and you are to observe and follow such Orders & Directions from Time to Time as you shall receive from your Colonel in Chief or any other (of) your Superior Officers according the Rules of Discipline of War. in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you. Given at our Court of St. James the ninth Day of February 1760 in the thirty third year of our reign.

                                                                               By His Majesty’s Command

(Ent in the Ord (Ordnance) Office/Entered in the     Ent in ? ? Mus ____?

                Joseph Keen Secry’s Office                       Gener__ to Office

                               Henry  ____?                                  M____? Madigan

                                                                          

                                                                                          W Pitt