The history of the seal of the United States — John Shaqi
The history of the seal of the United StatesHunt, Gaillard
History
The history of the seal of the United States
Hunt, Gaillard
United States -- History
The report of the Lovell committee met with the same fate as the report
of the first committee. It was recommitted, and nothing further was done
until May, 1782, when Arthur Middleton of South Carolina, Elias Boudinot
of New Jersey, and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina were appointed a
committee to design a seal. The two South Carolinians were men of
foreign education, and a cultivated gentleman in those days usually had
some knowledge of heraldry. Boudinot had an interest in coins and
medals, it is presumed, as he was appointed Director of the Mint at
Philadelphia in 1795. This committee did no independent labor of a
serious character, but called into consultation William Barton, A. M., a
private citizen of Philadelphia. He was the son of Rev. Thomas Barton,
rector of St. James Episcopal Church, his mother being a sister of the
famous David Rittenhouse,[21] and in 1813 he published a memoir of
Rittenhouse. He was also the author of a monograph on the nature and use
of Paper Credit, etc. (Philadelphia, 1781). The reasons which prompted
the committee to go to him are not known. It is evident, however, that
he had studied heraldry, and his drawings show that he was ingenious in
the use of his pencil. From the time he first appears in connection with
the seal he is the central figure, until he divides the honors with the
Secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson.
Rutledge’s connection with the committee was never active, and Arthur
Lee, who had recently returned from France, acted with it, although
never formally assigned as a member.
Barton’s first design for the seal was as follows:
A Device for an _Armorial Atchievement_, for the Great Seal of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled; agreeable to the
Rules of Heraldry:—proposed by William Barton, A. M.
Arms.
Barry of thirteen pieces, Argent & Gules; on a Canton, Azure, as many
Stars disposed in a Circle, of the first: a Pale, Or, surmounted of
another, of the third; charged, in Chief, with an Eye surrounded with
a Glory, proper; and, in the Fess-point, an Eagle displayed, on the
Summit of a Doric Column which rests on the Base of the Escutcheon,
both as the Stars.
Crest.
On an Helmet of burnished Gold damasked, grated with six Bars, and
surmounted of a Cap of Dignity, Gules, turned up Ermine, a Cock armed
with Gaffs, proper:
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