.jpg) Washington's Reception by the Ladies, on Passing the Bridge at Trenton, N.J. April 1789, on His Way to New York to be Inaugurated First President of the United States by John Jacob Hipp, 1897 | |
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| Date | April 21, 1789 (1789-04-21) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Bridge over theAssunpink Creek City Tavern |
| Location | Trenton, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°13′6″N74°45′51″W / 40.21833°N 74.76417°W /40.21833; -74.76417 |
George Washington's reception at Trenton was a celebration hosted by the Ladies of Trenton social club on April 21, 1789, inTrenton, New Jersey, asGeorge Washington, then president-elect, journeyed from his home atMount Vernon tohis first inauguration in the then capital of the United States,New York City. A ceremonialtriumphal arch was erected on the bridge over theAssunpink Creek to commemorate his two victories here, theBattle of Trenton on December 26, 1776 and theBattle of the Assunpink Creek on January 2, 1777.[1][2][3]
On April 6, 1789, after the1788–89 United States presidential election, ajoint session of Congress counted the votes of theElectoral College and reported thatGeorge Washington had been elected president.[4] The president-elect then left Mount Vernon on April 16 for his journey to the capital. By April 20, he had reachedPhiladelphia and was greeted by a large crowd and a decorated arch atGray's Ferry Bridge.[2]
The next day, by about 2 pm, he crossed the Delaware River to the Trenton Ferry landing and entered the city riding on a white horse.[2] He then proceeded to theEagle Tavern,[5] where he was met by GeneralPhilemon Dickinson, MajorRichard Howell, Rev.James Francis Armstrong, Chief JusticeDavid Brearley, Dr.Isaac Smith, and other dignitaries.[6] The reception in Trenton was described contemporaneously in a letter to the editor dated April 25, 1789 and published in the May 1789 issue of theColumbian Magazine.[3] Washington next advanced to the bridge over theAssunpink Creek where a large triumphal arch had been erected.[3] On the arch were two dates referring to his victories at Trenton: theBattle of Trenton on December 26, 1776 and theBattle of the Assunpink Creek on January 2, 1777.[6] The arch had thirteen pillars, wrapped with laurel greenery and flowers. A banner at the top of the arch had "The Defender of the Mothers Will Also Protect Their Daughters" written in gold letters. The ladies of Trenton and their daughters, dressed in white, were positioned past the arch, along the way into town. As Washington passed by, the daughters sang a special sonata, starting with "Welcome, mighty Chief!" and spread flowers before him.[3]
Later, there was a dinner and reception at Samuel Henry'sCity Tavern.[7] During the day, a new tune was played, "The President's March", composed byPhilip Phile for the inauguration.[8] As he departed Trenton, Washington thanked the Ladies of Trenton with a handwritten note:[1]
General Washington cannot leave this place without expressing his acknowledgments, to the Matrons and Young Ladies who received him in so novel & grateful a manner at the Triumphal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite sensation he experienced in that affecting moment. The astonishing contrast between his former and actual situation at the same spot—The elegant taste with which it was adorned for the present occasion—and the innocent appearance of thewhite-robed Choir who met him with the gratulatory song, have made such impressions on his remembrance, as, he assures them, will never be effaced.
Next, he went to the celebration atPrinceton, site of his victory at theBattle of Princeton on January 3, 1777.[7]
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The Triumphal Arch was used at the entrance to theNew Jersey State House to honor theMarquis de Lafayette during his1824 tour of the country.[9]
The celebration was re-enacted in 1989, the bicentennial of Washington's reception at Trenton.[10][5]
In 2018, a historic information sign, made over fifty years ago, was erected near the site of the old Trenton Ferry, now by theLower Trenton Bridge, to celebrate this reception.[11]
Washington's reception at Trenton has been depicted by many artists since Trenchard. In 1792,John Trumbull created a charcoal sketch,Bridge and Arch at Trenton.[12] Between 1823 and 1835, Thomas Kelly created the engravingWashington's reception on the Bridge at Trenton in 1789 on his way to be Inaugurated 1st President of the U.S..[13] In 1840, plans were announced to create a pedestal for the statue of Washington byFerdinand Pettrich. One panel was to display the Ladies of Trenton greeting Washington. However, these plans were not executed.[14] In 1845,Currier and Ives printed the lithographWashington's Reception by the Ladies, on Passing the Bridge at Trenton, N.J. April 1789, on His Way to be Inaugurated First President of the United States.[15] In 1897, John Jacob Hipp produced achromolithograph with the same title.[16] In the 1850s,Thomas Crawford designed a pair ofbronze doors for the Senate, which included a panel depicting the reception.[17]Louis Kurz's painting of the reception was printed as a lithographGeorge Washington entering Trenton 1789 in 1907 byKurz and Allison.[18] In 1930, the American artistN. C. Wyeth painted the large-scale work,Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States, now on display atThomas Edison State University. In 2019, the painting was donated byWells Fargo to the university, the most expensive gift ever given to the university, valued bySotheby's at$4 million.[19][20][21]
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{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)At this Trenton ceremony, Washington and his onlookers heard a new tune composed for the occasion by German-American violinist and composer Philip Phile (Pfeil): "The President's March."
As Lafayette stepped from his barouche in front of the State House and advanced through an aisle formed by the military and the citizens, he was greeted by a sight of the Washington arch which had been erected at the gateway to the Capitol.
The Ladies of Trenton greeting General Washington and strewing his path with flowers from a triumphal arch erected on a bridge crossing Assunpink Creek.
Ovation for George Washington at Trenton, NJ, 1789
