1. At a special meeting held on 1 July 1796, the American Philosophical Society passed a resolution authorizing a public eulogy of David Rittenhouse, the prominent scientist and former director of the U.S. Mint, who had died on 26 June 1796. On 5 July, the society selected physician Benjamin Rush to give the eulogy, which Rush composed by 18 November. On that date, a five-member committee of the society, which included the four signatories of this letter, was appointed to “report a time and place” for Rush’s delivery of the eulogy. The committee proposed that the event take place on 17 Dec. 1796 at the First Presbyterian Church, on Market Street (then High Street). Invitees included GW and his family, the families of Rittenhouse and Rush, the “College of Physicians,” Attorney General Charles Lee, and Elias Boudinot, the director of the U.S. Mint (“Early Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society … Compiled … from the Manuscript Minutes of Its Meeting,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 22 [July 1885], 239–40, 243–44).

GW, members of Congress and of the Pennsylvania legislature, “foreign ministers … together with a large concourse of the most respectable citizens, and an unusual number of ladies” were among those in attendance when Rush delivered the eulogy on 17 Dec. before invited guests and members of the American Philosophical Society. Rush’s eulogy, a biographical sketch of Rittenhouse’s life, enumerated Rittenhouse’s “peculiar talents” and interests, such as astronomy, metaphysics, and poetry. Rush also described Rittenhouse’s humanitarianism, his “love of mankind … hatred to war,” and his aversion to slavery (Polar Star and Boston Daily Advertiser, 29 Dec. 1796). Following the speech, the American Philosophical Society voted to thank Rush for his “eloquent, learned, comprehensive” eulogy and requested a copy for publication (“Early Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society … Compiled … from the Manuscript Minutes of Its Meeting,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 22 [July 1885], 245) The Philadelphia Gazette & Universal Daily Advertiser for 20 Jan. 1797 printed an advertisement, dated 2 Jan., announcing the publication that day of Rush’s Eulogium Intended to Perpetuate the Memory of David Rittenhouse, Late President of the American Philosophical Society (n.d.) by Philadelphia printer John Ormrod. Rush considered his eulogy “a feeble expression of respect for his [Rittenhouse’s] Character” (Rush to Jefferson, 4 Jan. 1797, in Jefferson Papers description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 41 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends , 29:251–52). On 9 Jan. 1797, GW paid for “an Engraving” of Rittenhouse (Household Accounts description begins Presidential Household Accounts, 1793–97. Manuscript, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. description ends ).

2. Robert Patterson (1743–1824) of Ireland, a mathematician, immigrated to the United States in 1768. He worked briefly as a schoolmaster in Bucks County, Pa., and unsuccessfully attempted a career as a merchant before returning to education. During the Revolutionary War, Patterson engaged in military service until the British evacuation of Philadelphia. From 1779 to 1814, the University of Pennsylvania employed Patterson as a professor of mathematics. Elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1783, Patterson became its president in 1819. He also served in public office, including as director of the U.S. Mint.

3. John Bleakley (c.1760–1802) entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1776 and received his degree in 1780. Earning a master of arts degree in 1783, and elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1789, Bleakley worked as a lawyer. He served as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania from 1789 to 1802 and was elected director of the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1798. Bleakley donated to numerous charities, including those that provided aid to slaves and Presbyterian ministers.