William H. Taft Naval Appointment Signed, October 25, 1911

1p of vellum, measuring 14.75" x 19.5", Washington, D.C., dated October 25, 1911. A naval appointment signed "Wm H Taft" and countersigned by the Acting Secretary of the Navy. Appointing "Clarence P. Baker…a Carpenter in the Navy." With patriotic motifs at the top and bottom margins and a blue paper seal at the bottom. The document has flattened folds, creasing, and warping. Uneven edges with toning and minor soiling. Chipping and paper loss to the paper seal. Clear signature. Property of the Chrysler Museum of Art, Sold to Benefit Museum Acquisitions.

William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Yale College in 1878. After gaining admission to the bar, Taft worked on the Cincinnati Commercial newspaper full time, covering local courts. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him as Solicitor General of the United States, a position he held until Harrison appointed him to the United States Court of Appeals, where he served from 1892 to 1900. In 1908, he was elected President of the United States as a Republican over Democrat William Jennings Bryan. After his defeat in the three-way election of 1912, Taft joined the faculty of the Yale Law School, until President Warren G. Harding appointed him as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1921, a position he held until his death nine years later.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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