President Martin Van Buren Approves New Credentials the American Ambassador to England

In July 1836, Andrew Stevenson presented his credentials as American ambassador to Great Britain to King William IV. William was, however, in the twilight of his life, and died on June 20, 1837. On that day, his 18-year old niece Victoria commenced her long and historic reign. News that she had ascended the throne reached the United States in July, as would have the official notification from the British government to the U.S. government. In response to the official notice, the U.S. State Department had to respond to the news with a congratulatory letter and provide Ambassador Stevenson with new credentials addressed specifically to Victoria to replace those her uncle, King William, had received, which were now no longer applicable. These would have been drafted in late July or some time in August 1837.

Document Signed as President, Washington, August 25, 1837, directing the Secretary of State to “affix the Great Seal of the United States to the envelope of two letters addressed to Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland…” There is a docket on the verso stating that the enclosures were “Mr. Stevenson’s new credentials and an answer.” Someone has drawn lines through this portion of the docket, but the document’s date implies that the docket text is likely correct.

Although records are lacking to prove definitively what the enclosures were, the timing of this document and its docket indicate that it ordered credentials for the first American ambassador Queen Victoria would receive, and quite possibly offered her congratulations on her taking the throne.