/>Henry Knox Thatcher was born in Thomaston, Maine, to Ebenezer and Lucy Flucker (Knox) Thatcher in 1806. A grandson of Gen. Henry Knox, the famed artillery commander of the Continental Army, young Thatcher was destined for a military life. Yet although appointed to the Military Academy at West Point in 1822, he was absent on sick leave for most of his first year and finally submitted his resignation in April 1823. In fact, he had merely exchanged the academic training at West Point for a practical course in the United States Navy, which he entered as midshipman in March 1823.
Thatcher passed his course as midshipman in March 1829 and began his rise through the ranks. In 1833, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and achieved the rank of Commander in 1855. After commanding first the Sloop
After his retirement from active service, Thatcher served as Port Admiral in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from 1869 to 1871. Upon stepping down from this post, he and his family established residence at Winchester, Massachusetts, where he spent the remaining 9 years of his life as a distinguished citizen. He died, after a long illness, in 1880.
Contains a painting of the U.S.S. Constellation and military memorabilia.
Painting of the U.S.S. Constellation by Tamaso de Simone, signed and dated 1862. Oil on canvas, 18.25 x 26 inches. Photographs of the painting and a CD containing copies of the photographs are in Box 1.
Stored in the John Hay Library vault, shelf marked: Military Collection.
Contains observations on weather, condition of ship, court martials, punishments, shipwreck and ships encountered, description of coastlines, seaports and cities visited and accounts of contacts and social life of the officers on board ship and ashore. Included are also lists of officers, accounts, a copied poem, a quit claim and a memorandum of a journey to San Jose, Costa Rica in 1857.
Contains factual records of cruises including dates, locations and distances. Remaining notations concern accounts, lists of officers, goods sent and a wine list, as well as several copied poems, and miscellaneous items.
Contains personal observations, political and diplomatic information. Mentioned are contacts with dignitaries and consuls, a reception at the court of the King of Portugal, and political and war related matters.
Commissions to lieutenant, commander, commodore, and rear admiral, signed by Presidents Jackson, Pierce, Lincoln, and Johnson. Located in oversize.
Notices refer to commissions of lieutenant and commander.
An apparently unpublished history of the ship and Henry Knox Thatcher's career highlights. Also includes the provenance and brief description of de Simone's painting.
Sheet of 4 photographs of the painting and CD disk containing digital versions of the photographs.
This collection consists of a painting of the U.S.S. Constellation, military regalia, and Thatcher's military commissions, appointments, and journals. The journals, 1839-1863, reflect intermittently Thatcher's personal and professional development, and also the gradual shift in his focus from his own immediate concerns to the historical and political events around him. He describes his life aboard ship, weather conditions, disciplinary actions, as well as visits to and from cities. His descriptions of the Mediterranean area are of particular interest. The social life of the officers and their diplomatic contacts are also reported. Finally, the journals reflect the contrast in Thatcher's concerns before and during the Civil War.
Generally, this collection is of limited scope in respect to Thatcher's own life, but it is of great interest regarding the life of naval officers while on tours of duty.
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Henry Knox Thatcher papers, Ms. 79.5, Brown University Library.
The collection is arranged in two series. Series 1 contains a painting of the U.S.S. Constellation and military regalia. Series 2 contains Thatcher's military commissions, appointments, and journals from 1839-1863:
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Gift of Gilbert Verney to Brown University prior to 1965; transferred to the Brown University Library in 1966.
The original contents of the collection at the time when given to Brown University are recorded in a pamphlet accompanying the painting of the U.S.S. Constellation. This pamphlet is housed with the manuscript and printed materials at the John Hay Library.
Painting "U.S.S. Constellation" by Tamaso de Simone separated from this collection.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
RESOURCES AT BROWN:
RESOURCES BEYOND BROWN:
The Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse University Library holds a collection of papers of H. K. Thatcher dating from 1867 to 1868. A description of this collection can be found in the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections as NUCMC entry 68-1762.