Local NewsAlexander Hamilton letter on view decades after suspected theft...

Alexander Hamilton letter on view decades after suspected theft from Massachusetts archives

-

A letter written by Alexander Hamilton in 1780 and believed stolen decades ago from the Massachusetts state archives is going back on display — though not exactly in the room where it happened.

The founding father’s letter is the featured piece at the Commonwealth Museum’s annual July Fourth exhibit, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office says. It’s the first time the public is getting a chance to see it since it was returned to the state after a lengthy court battle.

The letter will be featured alongside Massachusetts’ original copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury who’s been getting renewed attention in recent years because of the hit Broadway musical that bears his name, wrote the letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat who served as a general in the Continental Army.

Dated July 21, 1780, it details an imminent British threat to French forces in Rhode Island.

“We have just received advice from New York through different channels that the enemy are making an embarkation with which they menace the French fleet and army,” Hamilton wrote. “Fifty transports are said to have gone up the Sound to take in troops and proceed directly to Rhode Island.”

It’s signed “Yr. Most Obedt, A. Hamilton, Aide de Camp.”

The letter was forwarded by Massachusetts Gen. William Heath to state leaders, along with a request for troops to support French allies, Galvin’s office said.

The letter was believed to have been stolen during World War II by a state archives worker, then sold privately.

It resurfaced several years ago when an auctioneer in Virginia received it from a family that wanted to sell it. The auction house determined it had been stolen and contacted the FBI. A federal appeals court ruled in October that it belonged to the state.

The Commonwealth Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday.

BOSTON, MA – January 5: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin speaks about protecting Democracy at the Mass. Archieve on January 5, 2022 in BOSTON, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

 

Latest news

Pharma Partnering EU Summit 2025 Heads to Brussels This May

The Pharma Partnering EU Summit 2025 is set to take place on May 22–23 in the heart of Europe...

US Event: Pharma Partnering US Summit 2025

Pharma Partnering US Summit 2025 to Take Place in San Diego This May The highly anticipated Pharma Partnering US Summit...

Knocknock Launches Mobile App for Realtors and Unveils Global Platform Ambitions

The app is now available on App Store and Google Play, marking the first step in Knocknock’s vision to...

Biomedical Library offers 24-h Document Delivery Services

Established in 2007, the EurekaMag Biomedical Library continues to provide digitization and document delivery services using a network...
- Advertisement -

EricMalley.com Explores AI and the Human Experience: Insights from Visionaries Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Andrew Ng on Its Impact on Individuals, Families, and...

AI and The Human Experience: Insights from Visionaries Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Andrew Ng on Its Profound...

FineVPN Launches New VPN Service Using xRay Protocol for Enhanced Privacy and Security

Tallinn, Estonia — March 27, 2025 — FineVPN, a leading VPN service provider, is excited to announce the...

Must read

Pharma Partnering EU Summit 2025 Heads to Brussels This May

The Pharma Partnering EU Summit 2025 is set to...

US Event: Pharma Partnering US Summit 2025

Pharma Partnering US Summit 2025 to Take Place in...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you