THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI AND ITS HEADQUARTERS ANDERSON HOUSE
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SOCIETY
What is the Society of the Cincinnati?
The Society of the Cincinnati is a
perpetual body composed of lineal
male descendants of commissioned
officers who served in the regular
(Continental) American Army or
Navy during the Revolution, 1775-
1783. At present (1982) it has about
2900 members.
What does it do?
It exists for the following purposes: , 1
a. To perpetuate, among their de-
scendants, the cordial affection
that existed among the founders.
b. To promote and cherish, between
the respective states, that union
and national honor so essential to
their happiness and future '
dignity. .
c. To preserve inviolate those
exalted rightsand liberties of
human nature for which the
founders fought and bled and
without which the high rank of a
rational being is a curse instead of
a blessing.
d. To support educational, cultural
and literary activities that pro-
mote the purposes of the Society
and the ideals of liberty and con-
stitutional government.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When and by whom was it established?
In 1783 by a group of offic€rS~~Wh0
had served with Washington through
the Revolution. The first proposal for
some kind of permanent union
among the officers was made on
April 15, 1783 by General Henry
Knox, Washingtons Chief of Artil-
lery, who suggested a fraternal patri-
otic organization of the officers who
are about to be demobilized.
The idea was considered further in
May by the officers at the New V
V\/indsor Cantonment on the west
bank of the Hudson River who devel-
oped a charter (called the Institution)
for the new Society and sent it for
approval to each of the 13 original
states. By the end of 1783 each state
had adopted it and had formed its
own State Society.
How is it organized?
Into 14 self-governing State Societies
(one of which is in France) united in a
General Society whose headquarters
is Anderson House. George Wash-
ington was chosen first President
General and held that office 16 years
until his death in 1799. Alexander
Hamilton became the second‘Presi—
dent General for the next five years.
A membership badge was de-
signed for the Society by Major Pierre
Charles ljEnfant who later laid out
the city of Washington. The colors,
blue and white, were chosen for the
Society to symbolize the association
between America and her Revo-
lutionary ally, France. An engraving
of the insignia designed by L’Enfant is
reproduced on the front of this
brochure.
Wh0 was entitled to become an
Qriginal Member?
Qnly those officers who had served a
minimum period with the regular
(Line) American Army ‘or Navy, or
with the French forces under
Rochambeau and deGrasse.
Qualifications were: ,
a. Service to the end of the war as
an officer with a Line (as distin-
f