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Prominent American politician (1782–1850) who served as vice president under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. He later wielded great power and influence in the Senate as a champion of Southern causes, including slavery. TLS signed “J. C. Calhoun,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, Department of War letterhead, March 23, 1822. Letter to an aspiring West Point candidate, Jacob Zeilin, in part: "You are hereby notified, that on repairing to West Point, in the state of New-York, in the month of June next, and reporting yourself to the Superintendent of the Military Academy, you will be examined for admission into that Institution, and if qualified, will be admitted conditionally, as a Cadet." Signed at the conclusion in ink by Secretary of War John C. Calhoun.
Printed at the bottom is a list of necessary qualifications: "Each cadet, previous to being admitted a member of the Military Academy, must be able to read distinctly and pronounce correctly; to write a fair legible hand; and to perform, with facility and accuracy, the various operations of the ground rules of arithmetic, both simple and compound; of the rules of reduction; of single and compound proportion; and also of vulgar and decimal fractions; and be above fourteen, and not exceeding twenty-one, years of age." Professionally inlaid into a slightly larger sheet and in fine condition, with toning from prior display.
The recipient, Jacob Zeilin (1806–1880), attended the United States Military Academy from 1822 to 1825, but dropped out due to poor grades in philosophy and chemistry. He was later commissioned in the Marine Corps, participating in the Mexican–American War and the Civil War. On June 10, 1864, he was appointed Commandant of the United States Marine Corps by President Abraham Lincoln.
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