George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Robert Crooke, 3 June 1790

From Robert Crooke

Newport [R.I.] June 3rd 1790

Sir

I had the honor of being appointed by this State, to the office of Collector of Impost for the county of Newport, in the year 1783, and continued in said office with general approbation until the year 1787, and gave full satisfaction to the public; but was removed therefrom by a change in administration, for the sole cause of my disapproving of their opposition, to the new constitution, and their emitting paper money.

I did not think it necessary to trouble your Excellency with any request for an office until the adoption of the constitution by this state—You will herewith have certificates of my former appointment, and my Conduct in said office.

If your Excellency can with propriety confer on me either the office of Collector of Impost or the naval office for this Port, I shall esteem it a great favor. I hope your Excellency will excuse the liberty of my thus addressing You. I am with sincerity and regard your Excellency’s Most Obt & very Hume Servt

Robt Crooke

LS, DLC:GW.

Robert Crooke (Crook; c.1717–1802), a Newport merchant and a Federalist, was a member of the Sons of Liberty before the Revolution and served as collecter of impost for Newport in 1783–87 (Crane, Dependent People, description begins Elaine Forman Crane. A Dependent People: Newport, Rhode Island, in the Revolutionary Era. New York, 1985. description ends 129, 146). He was removed from office in 1787 for opposing the emission of paper money. New York businessman Royal Flint described Crooke to Alexander Hamilton as “much respected” (Hunt, Calendar, description begins Gaillard Hunt. Calendar of Applications and Recommendations for Office During the Presidency of George Washington. Washington, D.C., 1901. description ends 44). GW appointed him naval officer at Newport on 14 June 1790 (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 14 June 1790).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Robert Crooke, 3 June 1790
    Author
    Crooke, Robert
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    3 June 1790

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Robert Crooke, 3 June 1790,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-05-02-0291. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 5, 16 January 1790 – 30 June 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig, Mark A. Mastromarino, and Jack D. Warren. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1996, pp. 466–467.]