Presented here is a very fine, pre-Civil War naval officer’s commission presented to William Reynolds of Lancaster, PA in 1841. William was the older brother of General John F. Reynolds of Gettysburg fame. The commission document is high-grade, cream-colored vellum paper and bears the handwritten signature in ink of John Tyler, the 10^th President of the United States. William was born in Lancaster, PA and enlisted in the Navy in 1831 when he was 16 years old.  The USS Boxer was his first assignment and in 1837 Reynolds was promoted to midshipman, and then to lieutenant in 1841.

This original unframed vellum artifact is Reynolds’ actual US Navy lieutenant’s commission signed and dated on September 10, 1841. Document measures 17” long x 13¾” wide and is very clean and bright with no blemishes but has just a touch of darkening at the very top left edge.  Across the upper third portion of the commission is the spreadwinged eagle in flight over the title “JOHN  TYLER  /  PRESIDENT of the United States of AMERICA” in a straight line. Body of the document is pre-printed with pertinent details of the appointment.

The document was hand signed in black ink on the lower right side by President John Tyler on Sep 10, 1841 at Washington, D.C. Tyler’s signature is strong. Found in the lower left corner of the commission is a handwritten note completed in black ink that officially records this document in the Assistant Adjutant General’s office and is signed by A.A. Genl. L. B. Hardin.

Evident on the cream-colored vellum document are a series of light paper folds or creases, the result from storage of this commission and somewhat common on high profile documents. The entire vellum piece appears to have been re-folded some time ago and exhibits old, faint residual folds.

This unframed vellum document in fine condition is a highly-desirable identified artifact from William Reynolds, brother of General John F. Reynolds.  A historical, original piece of American history.

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William Reynolds was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and joined the Navy in 1831. His first assignment was to the Boxer, where he toured Africa, Brazil, and the Malay archipelago. In 1837, he was promoted to passed midshipman and then to lieutenant in 1841. From 1838 to 1842, he served with the U.S. Exploring Expedition, and was among the first to sight the Antarctic mainland. In 1842, he was assigned to the Cumberland.

In 1862, he was promoted to commander and given his first ship, the Vermont, a receiving ship at Port Royal, South Carolina. (When that ship was replaced by the New Hampshire, he was transferred to command it.) He was subsequently given command of the depot there.

In 1865, Reynolds was promoted to captain and given command of the screw sloop Lackawanna after the American Civil War, assigned to the Pacific. In 1867, he was the officer to formally claim the Midway Atoll for the United States, after its discovery by a sealing ship in 1859. In 1870, he was made a commodore and was made the Chief of the Bureau of Equipment. In 1873, he was promoted to rear admiral[1] and given command of the Asiatic Squadron from his flagship, the steam frigate Tennessee. Reynolds served as the acting Secretary of the United States Navy in 1874.

His last foreign tour included an official visit to China. Reynolds' wife, Rebecca Krug Reynolds, became the first American woman to walk on the Great Wall of China.

In 1877, due to failing health, he retired from active service. Reynolds died in Washington, D.C. on November 5, 1879, and is buried next to his younger brother, John F. Reynolds, in the cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Biographical timeline.

1831 November 17: appointed Midshipman/U.S. Navy. In his post he travels extensively.
1836-1837: attended naval school, Norfolk, VA
1837 June 15: became a passed Midshipman.
1838: worked at the U.S. Navy's Depot of Charts & Instruments in Washington, D.C. This office is a pre-cursor to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
1838-1842: served as an officer on the U.S. Exploring Expedition (a.k.a. the Wilkes Expedition.)
1841 September: received commission as Lieutenant.
1842 August 16: married Rebecca Krug in Lancaster, PA
1852-1861: resided in Kauai and Honolulu, Hawaii during leave of absence from Navy; placed on Reserve list.
1855 September 24: placed on reserved list due to ill health.
1857 February 23: appointed Naval Store Keeper at Honolulu.
1862 June 9: appointed Commander of U.S.S. Vermont, South Atlantic Blockading Station, Port Royal, South Carolina.
1866 July 25: promoted to Captain. Stationed on the U.S.S. Lackawanna to Hawaii.
1867: took possession of Midway Island for the U.S.
1870: appointed Commodore.
1870-1875: appointed Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting.
1873 and 1874: served as Acting Secretary of the Navy (two occasions).
1873 December 12: appointed Rear Admiral.
1875: appointed Commander of the naval forces bases at the "Asiatic Station" (Japan, China, Siam), Flagship U.S.S. Tennessee.
1877 December 10: placed on Retired List.
1879 November 5: died in Washington, D.C.