George Washington Orders Clothes for Inauguration Day, 1789, Likely for the Slaves Who Drew His Carriage There

Documents directly relating to Washington’s inauguration day are very uncommon. We don’t recall seeing another

The first inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States was held on Thursday, April 30, 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, New York. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Washington as President. With his inauguration, the executive branch of the United States government officially began operations under the new framework of government established by the 1787 Constitution.

From nearly first light on April 30, 1789, a crowd of people began to gather around Washington’s home, and at noon they made their way to Federal Hall by way of Queen Street and Great Dock (both now Pearl Street) and Broad Street. Washington dressed in an American-made dark brown suit with white silk stockings and silver shoe buckles; he also wore a steel-hilted sword and dark red overcoat.

Upon his arrival at Federal Hall, Washington was formally introduced to the House and Senate, after which Vice President John Adams announced it was time for the inauguration. Washington moved to the second-floor balcony. Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston administered the presidential oath of office in view of throngs of people gathered on the streets. Afterwards, Livingston shouted “Long live George Washington, President of the United States!”

Giles and Paris were Washington’s postilions, men (slaves) who rode and drove the horses that pulled his carriage. Their hats had distinctive tassels and were part of the livery suits that Giles and Paris wore as they guided Washington’s coach, emblazoned with his coat of arms, through the busy streets of the nation’s capital. Made of fine wool and decorated with woven tape (called livery lace), this distinctive uniform immediately identified them—and the other men who wore it—as part of the retinue of George Washington.

The firm of Pope and Cadle were located in New York and sold lace, silk and other hosiery. For inauguration day, Washington wanted hat tassels for that day, and afterwards silk hose and livery lace.

Document signed, May 22, 1789, a receipt to “His Excellency Gen. Washington Esq” from “Pope and Cadle”, 12 William Street. The document notes the date and item purchased on the left and the cost at right. “1 P white Silk Hose,” “1 P Supr fine Ditto,” “1 P Ditto,” “28 yds Livery Lace.” The total amounts to £7:4, but a note states that one pair of hose was for Tobias Lear, Washington’s secretary, and was paid for by him. So on April 30, the date of Washington’s inauguration, Washington ordered 3 hat tassels. In May he ordered white silk hose and livery lace. George Washington wore white silk hose on his inauguration day. Silked.

This document last sold in 1951 with Walter Benjamin.