Financial History Issue 117 (Spring 2016) | Page 15
By Edward G. Lengel
George Washington probably wrote
thousands of safe-passage passes, as was
only natural for a man who held so much
authority. Most of them were routine:
allowing civilians to cross military checkpoints, messengers to enter secured areas,
and the like. There were exceptions — like
passes for spies. None, though, was more
unusual than the one he penned at his
presidential desk in Philadelphia on the
morning of January 9, 1793. It read:
First
Entrepreneur
The bearer hereof, Mr. Blanchard a
citizen of France, proposing to ascend
in a balloon from the city of Philadelphia, at 10 o’clock, a.m. this day, to
pass in such direction and to descend
in such place as circumstances may
render most convenient — These are
therefore to recommend to all citizens
of the United States, and others, that
in his passage, descent, return or journeying elsewhere, they oppose no hindrance or molestation to the said Mr.
Blanchard; And, that on the contrary,
they receive and aid him with that
humanity and good will, which may
render honor to their country, and justice to an individual so distinguished
by his efforts to establish and advance
an art, in order to make it useful to
mankind in general.
Washington would deliver this pass personally. Cannon fire awoke Philadelphians
at dawn that day. The guns — unloaded,
thankfully
—
boomed at regular intervals thereafter, and a growing hubbub
embroiled the streets. Curious crowds
gravitated toward the prison yard, where
people jabbered excitedly about a big
event due to begin at nine o’clock. Many
probably thought they were about to witness a hanging until they caught glimpses
of an immense heap of yellow varnished
silk laced with netting lying in the yard’s
center. A Frenchman gaily dressed in a
General George Washington, later the
nation’s first president, was also an early
entrepreneur who believed the world
needed visionaries.
Spring 2016 | FINANCIAL HISTORY 13