Grover Cleveland

Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 16 x 19.75, November 9, 1894. President Cleveland appoints Yates Stirling as "a Captain in the Navy." Neatly signed at the conclusion by President Cleveland and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Hilary A. Herbert. The blue seal affixed at the bottom remains intact with a few small edge chips. In fine condition, with some light creasing and soiling. Accompanied by the certificate issued to Stirling by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, "in recognition of his patriotic service during the War with Spain in 1898."
Yates Stirling, Sr. was appointed ensign in May 1863 and rose through the ranks of the American Navy, being appointed rear admiral in July 1902. At the time of the Russo-Japanese War (1903–05), he was commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet. In 1926, when his son, Yates Stirling, Jr., was promoted to rear admiral, they became just the second father-and-son pair in the history of the US Navy to simultaneously hold the rank of rear admiral.

Format:DS