CIVIL WAR NAVY COMMODORE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FLEET SURGEON BF BACHE DOCUMENT SIGNED

Description

Here's a RARE & Official 1857 Civil War Antebellum Naval Pay Document Signed by Civil War Commodore, Medical Director, Fleet Surgeon, and Patriot:
DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BACHE
(1801-1881)
COMMODORE and MEDICAL DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES NAVY, SERVING FROM 1828-1872,
ANTEBELLUM and CIVIL WAR SURGEON, U.S. NAVY,
FOUNDER and
1
st
DIRECTOR OF THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
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LABORATORY,’ PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THE NAVY’S MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, and DURING THE CIVIL WAR, MAINTAINING THE FACILITY AT HIS OWN EXPENSE 1855-1872,
DIRECTOR OF THE NAVAL HOSPITAL, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 1850-1854,
DIRECTOR OF THE NAVAL ASYLUM AT PHILADELPHIA FROM 1845 TO 1847,
FLEET SURGEON OF THE BRAZILIAN SQUADRON,
FLEET SURGEON OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON 1838-1841,
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY and MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA-EDUCATED PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE and RELIGION AT KENYON COLLEGE IN OHIO 1838-1841
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GREAT-GRANDSON OF AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR STATESMAN and AUTHOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
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The document measures 8¼” x 2½”& is in VERY FINE CONDITION.
AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE of BACHE’S HOLOGRAPH!
A WONDERFUL & RARE ADDITION TO YOUR MILITARY/NAVY HISTORY AUTOGRAPH, MANUSCRIPT & EPHEMERA COLLECTION!
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BACHE
(1801 – 1881)
NAVAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR & FLEET SURGEON
WITH THE RELATIVE RANK OF COMMODORE
Benjamin Franklin Bache
, Surgeon, born in Monticello, Virginia, 7 February 1801; died in New York City, 2 November 1881. He was graduated at Princeton in 1819, and at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1823, entered the navy as assistant surgeon on July 1, 1824, and was commissioned Surgeon on June 3, 1828. From 1832 to 1836 he was stationed at Pensacola navy yard, and while on leave he was also professor of natural science and natural religion in Kenyon College, Ohio. He was Fleet-Surgeon of the Mediterranean squadron in 1841-'4, and of the Brazil squadron in 1847-'50, serving on board the sloop “Fairfield.” From 1850 to 1854 he was at the New York naval hospital, and then organized at New York the laboratory that furnishes all medical supplies to the navy. He was Director of this from 1853 to 1872, and in 1861 did great service to the government by restocking the laboratory on his own responsibility, in 1863 he was placed on the retired list, but continued to act as superintendent of the laboratory until 1871, when he was appointed medical director, with the relative rank of commodore, and retired from active service
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< 1881 OBITUARY >
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Dr. Benjamin Franklin Bache U.S.N.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Bache, a great grandson of Benjamin Franklin, and an officer in the United States Navy, for nearly sixty years, died at his residence, No. 283 Henry Street, this morn¬ing at five o'clock, after an illness of two weeks.
Dr. Bache was born in Monticello, Virginia, on February 7, 1801, and was in his 81st year at the time of his death. He was a grandson of Richard Bache, a Philadelphia merchant of high standing, and Sarah Franklin Bache, the only daughter of Benjamin Franklin. His grandfather came to this country from England at an early age, and espousing the patriot cause in the War of the Revolution, gave his heart and soul to the principles advocated by the struggling colonists in the heroic contest for their rights. Mr. Bache was finally appointed Postmaster General of the United States, which position he filled with credit and honor from 1776 to 1782.
Dr. Bache's grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Franklin Bache, rendered great service in 1780, when thousands of men in the American army were insufficiently clad, by supervising the labors of over 2,200 woman in providing raiment and clothing to meet the necessities of the footsore and wearied patriots. She also served at frequent periods in the hospitals, and by her fortitude and devotion won the praise and commendation of the Marquis de Chassellux, a French noble, then visiting America, who said that the ladles of Europe should take her as a model of domestic virtues and feminine patriotism.
Dr. Bache graduated from Princeton College at the age of 18 years, and from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1823. He entered the United States Navy as Assistant Surgeon in 1844, and in 1828 was promoted to the rank of Surgeon. He was Fleet Surgeon from 1838 to 1841 of the Mediterranean squadron; in charge of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia from 1845 to 1847; Fleet Surgeon of the Brazilian squadron from 1848 to 1860; at the Naval Hospital New York, from 1850 to 1854 and director of the laboratory at the Brooklyn Navy Yard from 1855 to 1872. He was retired February 1, 1868, and in 1871 was appointed Medical Director with the relative rank of Commodore.
It was while engaged in the laboratory of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, that his great knowledge as a chemist and his unquestioned and unflinching honor made him "a friend indeed” in the time of his country's need. Discovering that the supplies and drugs then being furnished to the Government were poor in quality and deficient in weight, he undertook to reorganize the whole department. He met with the most determined opposition from many influential persons who hoped to profit by the nefarious schemes of the contract system, and such obstacles were thrown in his way as would have discouraged any ordinary man. But he did not flinch, when it was said that such a measure should be approved because it was favored by some authority, the stern old hero said that he did not care. He was in the service of his government, and he intended that as one of its defenders and agents, it should not be defrauded. Taking the samples that were furnished by contractors he analyzed them and compared them with those actually delivered, and finding in many cases that they were not as had been represented he marked on them "condemned," and thus saved the United States millions of dollars. The contractors seeing that they had a man of a high mold and type to deal with, relinquished after a bitter struggle their attempts to swindle the Navy Department, and the laboratory under Dr. Bache's administration became one of the most thoroughly equipped and efficient branches in the United States service.
Dr. Bathe, personally, was one of the most remarkable men of his time. Quiet and modest in disposition he possessed a range of knowledge that was as surprising as it was striking. There was hardly a subject with which he was unfamiliar, and as a student, a chemist, a traveler and an observer, he was received in social circles everywhere with the most profound consideration. He was an exceedingly brilliant conversationalist, and could and did recite by the hour experiences and observations in his long and useful life, of the most engaging character. A mere fascinating companion it would be difficult to find, and one of the great secrets of Dr. Bache's magnetism was his versatility of genius. His company was agreeable to young and old alike and his presence never proved wearisome, but was like a perpetual ray of sunshine.
In appearance he bore a strong resemblance to his distinguished ancestor, and his side face was almost the counterpart of that shown in the best pictures of Benjamin Franklin. Dr. Bathe was particularly severe in his detestation of shams of every kind, and never hesitated to denounce them without reference to person or position. He leaves a widow and three married daughters, the wives of Drs. Bates and Bogert and Captain Charles L. Huntington, all of the United States Navy. His sister is the wife of Dr. E. R. Squibb, the well known chemist and surgeon, of this city.
His funeral will take place on Friday afternoon, at two o'clock, from his late residence, No 283 Henry Street. The Rev. Dr. Henry J. VanDyke will officiate.
This newspaper obituary was in the possession of Jean Marie Pergrin Starr, 5th-great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin, statesman, and 2nd-great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin Bache.
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