George Washington Signed Appointment of the First Surveyor General.

Rare manuscript document boldly signed by George Washington as the first President of the United States of American appointing the first Surveyor General of the United States. One page, oblong quarto, manuscript document in a secretarial hand on vellum, Philadelphia, 13 May 1796, signed at the conclusion, "G. Washington" and countersigned by Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State. With paper presidential seal, docketed on verso, creased from folding. Trained in surveying as a youth, Simeon De Witt (1756-1834) gained early distinction making maps for George Washington during the Revolution, ultimately becoming Geographer and Surveyor of the Continental Army. After the war, De Witt settled in Albany, where he served for a half century until his death as the surveyor general of New York State. His 1802 state map set a standard for American cartography. In 1796, Washington nominated and appointed De Witt to become Surveyor General of the United States, but De Witt turned down the nomination. Washington wrote to Thomas Jefferson describing De Witt as “extremely modest, sensible, sober, discreet, and deserving of favors. He is esteemed a very good mathematician.” Despite Washington' praise, Jefferson never adopted any of De Witt’s proposals during his presidency. Although De Witt declined Washington's appointment as surveyor general of the United States, while serving on the Manhattan street commission he eagerly accepted a position (1810) on the first state commission exploring a cross-state canal to Lake Erie. De Witt’s unrivaled mapping and surveying experience made him a logical choice for the street commission. Given his extensive record laying rectilinear grids elsewhere in the state, De Witt was the likeliest among the commissioners to propose and promote a regular grid for Manhattan. De Witt was responsible for the hiring of his likeminded young Albany protégé, John Randel, Jr., to serve as the commission’s chief surveyor. In near fine condition. Triple matted and framed. The document measures 13.5 inches by 10 inches. The entire piece measures 20.5 inches by 17 inches,