Two Original 1880s Letters from Rear Admiral William M. Folger to Naval Officer “Jaques”
This lot includes two handwritten letters (dated December 7, 1885, and June 3, 1886) by Rear Admiral William Mayhew Folger, a prominent 19th-century U.S. Navy officer who served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.
Both letters are addressed to Lieutenant William H. Jaques, a fellow naval officer active in transatlantic operations and likely involved in ordnance and international naval affairs. Folger discusses his isolation in Fitchburg, potential return to England, dealings with companies, and mentions General Joseph R. Hawley (U.S. Senator and chairman of military affairs).
The earlier 1885 letter from Annapolis references the St. Chammond arms company, British contacts (Pall Mall), and an individual named Gibson—suggesting coordination on military or industrial matters.
These letters reflect the close relationships and behind-the-scenes communications between naval officers and industrial contacts during a key period of modernization and international naval arms trade.
Provenance: Both letters docketed and date-stamped (received and answered).
Condition: Excellent overall with minor edge wear and archival tape on the earlier letter. Clear bold handwriting.
A valuable addition to any naval history, U.S. military, or 19th-century industrial correspondence collection.
Rear Admiral William Mayhew Folger (1844–1928)
U.S. Navy Officer, Bureau of Ordnance Chief
William M. Folger was a distinguished officer in the United States Navy. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1864 and served during the Civil War. He became a specialist in naval ordnance and held various positions, eventually being appointed Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance (1881–1885), where he oversaw modernization efforts including naval artillery procurement and ship armament design. Folger reached the rank of Rear Admiral and played a key role in advancing naval technologies during a transitional period in U.S. maritime power. He was widely respected for his technical acumen and administrative leadership.
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📌 Lieutenant William H. Jaques (also spelled Jacques) (1848–1916)
U.S. Navy Ordnance Officer & Inventor
William H. Jaques was a U.S. Navy officer known for his work in ordnance and explosives. He was appointed as a midshipman in 1863 and rose to the rank of lieutenant by the early 1870s. He was deeply involved in military engineering and naval weaponry, particularly with high explosives. After resigning from the Navy in 1887, Jaques co-founded the Peyton-Jaques Company and was instrumental in early American torpedo development. He was active in international arms discussions and is known to have had dealings with European firms, particularly in France and Britain. His name is sometimes seen in connection with naval patents and innovations in gunnery.
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📌 General Joseph Roswell Hawley (1826–1905)
Union General, U.S. Senator from Connecticut
Joseph R. Hawley was a Civil War general and a prominent Republican politician. He served as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut from 1881 to 1905. A strong supporter of military preparedness and civil service reform, he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs. He played a key role in shaping U.S. defense policy during the post-Reconstruction and Gilded Age periods. His reports and remarks were influential in military procurement, naval modernization, and defense-related legislation. Folger’s 1886 reference to Hawley suggests Jaques may have been mentioned or commended in one of Hawley’s official Senate reports.