George Washington - Resignation from Continental Army

In 1783, George Washington submitted his resignation from his commission as General of the Continental Army.  What is interesting in hindsight is how he ended the letter.

The condensed version appears at end of this post.

December 1783 - Washington
resigns from the Army

In December 1783, he actually thought he was going to take his "leave of all the employments of public life." All was well for six years when once again he found himself summoned to public life.

In 1789, the votes were counted in the Senate and House of Representatives in New York. On April 7, 1789, George Washington was elected President of the United States of America for four years. However, those four years would turn into eight years and it would be 1897 before he would again retire from public life to spend the rest of his life living at his beloved Mount Vernon. Washington died less than two years later on December 14, 1799.

Synopsis of the above letter:

"Philadelphia, December 1783.  The clipping is actually an extract of a letter from a gentleman in Annapolis who wrote to his friend in Philadelphia, dated December 23, 1783.

"At 12 o'clock to-day, General Washington was admitted to a public audience, at which he made a very affecting address and presented his commission to the United States Congress. Present were the Governor of this State, the Council and both Houses of Assembly, together with sundry military officers of distinction, and many ladies."

The gentleman wrote that the General's words drew tears from most of the spectators.  His speech was recorded by a newspaper correspondent who shared a copy with Congress members who wanted to record the momentous event for posterity.

George Washington address the President of the Senate:

"Mr. President. The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress and of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands, the trust they committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my country."

He went on to say he was very pleased that the United States had become a respectable nation with the successful termination of war, and he was grateful for the assistance of many in carrying out his military duties.

"I consider it an indispensible duty to close this last solemn act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God . . .  Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have long acted, I here offer my commission and take my leave of all the employments of public life.  Signed, G. Washington, City of Annapolis, December 23, 1783.

Source:  The Pennsylvania Gazette, Wednesday December 31, 1783, page 3.