A Selection of Historical Documents Showcasing Moments of Great Leadership
Through historical letters and documents, we hear how presidents, commanders, and royals led their countrymen through war and conflict; and how spiritual leaders and scientists guided the world through social and technological changes.
George Washington
“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” is how George Washington was described in a famous eulogy by Major General Henry Lee. The phrase honors Washington both as the General who earned the respect of his soldiers as he led the Continental Army to success during the Revolutionary War, as well as the President who served as America’s first leader and provided a template for future presidents, particularly with regard to the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next.
The signed letter of Washington (pictured above) speaks directly to that moment in history, as Washington’s own term in office had ended the year prior, and President John Adams had come to power. Washington writes of Adams: “It is my wish to give him every proof of frankness, respect and esteem.” The letter was sent to Secretary of War James McHenry, though its real audience was also Adams himself; indeed Adams read this very letter, meaning it was touched by both presidents.
A signed, war-date letter of Washington shows the other side of his famous leadership: the General at war. In this 1780 letter, Washington concludes a prisoner exchange with Sir Henry Clinton, Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in America, mentioning Clinton by name and acceding to his proposal. Washington orders the American Superintendent of British prisoners who surrendered at Saratoga to implement the arrangement.
Abraham Lincoln
Some of Abraham Lincoln’s Civil War-era letters evince the president’s empathy, an attribute at the heart of strong leadership. Lincoln’s sincere understanding of the plight of his soldiers, for example, is evident in this rare 1864 signed letter expressing his concern for “our gallant and suffering soldiers.” Lincoln donated this famous letter and its message to a Sanitary Fair, while praising the women for the work “you are so patriotically employing” to raise funds for his sick and wounded troops.
A deep sense of patriotism also influenced Lincoln’s skill as a leader. Lincoln’s legacy is firmly rooted in his ability to balance competing interests for the preservation of the Union. His Team of Rivals is only one example where he was able to look past partisan and parochial interests and find common ground with, and provide high office to, those who disagreed with him. In fact, this form of powerful executive leadership is brilliantly exemplified by the allies he made and team he assembled to win the war, many of whom signed this remarkable document from 1861, the “Patriots” of the War. The idea that patriotism must triumph over all personal considerations would later be echoed by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon’s appeal to his men is legendary. More than almost any other person, he embodied the nationalism of the 19th century; his soldiers revered him and for generations after he was studied for his populist leadership. He was a man of the people. Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke for many when he wrote of Napoleon, in his essay focused on the General, “Among the eminent persons of the nineteenth century, Bonaparte is far the best known and the most powerful; and owes his predominance to the fidelity with which he expresses the tone of thought and belief, the aims of the masses of active and cultivated men.”
In a newly discovered letter, acquired from the heirs of the recipient and never before offered for sale, Napoleon makes clear a defining characteristic of an effective leader: “it is advantageous for the good of the service to be liked.” It is simple yet powerful and certainly emblematic of the Emperor’s leadership style. He writes to a General regarding a Rear Admiral in his service, “He is too harsh. His captains and officers do not like him and they leave him. Attempt to make him understand that it is advantageous for the good of the service to be liked.” He might as well have been issuing a direct comparison to his own style of leadership.
Yet Napoleon would be tough when it came to victory. In a signed letter of his, just after his triumph in Venice, Napoleon proclaims his rights and states how he will rule the conquered: “The right of victory established, I will treat them as a good sovereign, if they are good subjects.” At this point, Napoleon was King of Italy, and in this letter to his step-son and viceroy, Eugène de Beauharnais, he is remarkably forthright about the rights of a victor.
Samuel Morse
In 1844, Samuel F.B. Morse penned a letter to the postmaster of Washington, D.C., establishing himself as Superintendent of the Telegraph to receive and send communication. Morse was preparing for his first test of the telegraph message from D.C. to Baltimore. That fascinating letter–not seen on the market for 30 years–finds Morse at the beginning of building the network that caused a technological shift in communications worldwide.
The interesting thing is, Morse began his career as an artist and a professor of painting with an interest in electric telegraphy. He followed that interest, thought creatively, and ended up devising Morse Code and securing a patent for the telegraph.
Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson is a towering figure in history and perhaps the greatest naval figure of all time: a brilliant tactician, original strategist, and fearless fighter. All of these things made him an inspiring leader. His skill as a planner and strategist is evident in the sailing documents, or Orders of Sailing, he was known to create for his captains before heading into battle. Nelson drafted the Order of Sailing (pictured above) in 1797, as he and his men prepared to meet the enemy off Cadiz, Spain. We have never seen another.
Although Nelson would be wounded three months later–a wound which would result in a partial arm amputation and lingering pain–he remained on duty during the Napoleonic Wars, realizing a great victory for Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, though he lost his life. You can see him here rejoicing in an earlier victory. Nelson’s indomitable spirit made him an instant hero whose leadership qualities still resonate today.
Winston Churchill
Entire books have been written about Winston Churchill’s leadership before, during, and after his two terms as Prime Minister of Great Britain. Authors describe his decisiveness, his power as a communicator, and his vision for victory, evidence of which can be found in abundance throughout Churchill’s letters, speeches, and related documents.
To explore just one example from 1940, one which has two components: important pieces of history from his earliest days as Prime Minister, as the evacuation at Dunkirk was unfolding. One is a note from the War Cabinet, May 20, 1940, pre-Dunkirk, written in Churchill’s presence, trying to respond to the Nazi blitzkrieg in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The other is a surviving page of the famous letter from Churchill to the arch-appeaser Lord Halifax on June 3, 1940, the day the Dunkirk operation ended, stating they must be rebuilding the British Army, and making it clear it is he who is in charge.
Two years later, in the middle of World War II, Churchill’s powerful leadership begins to bear fruit. In a signed letter, Churchill celebrates the first great Allied victory of the war: Operation Torch in North Africa. He writes to Major General Sir Noel Galway Holmes: “The unqualified success of the ‘TORCH’ landings reflects the greatest credit upon those who were responsible for the movement of the personnel, equipment and supplies to the ports of embarkation and their loading into the ships. I congratulate you most warmly on a brilliant piece of staff work, and I should be glad if you would convey to all concerned an expression of my deep appreciation of their work.”
Mahatma Gandhi
As both a political leader and a spiritual leader, Mahatma Gandhi inspired people all over the world. He fought for Indian independence and championed the rights of the poor. His belief in non-violent protest set the example for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others.
Sadly, Gandhi would meet a violent end at the hands of an assassin on January 30, 1948. Only eight days prior, after a previous assassination attempt, he had given a prayer speech in which, his biographer reports, Gandhi’s remarks were in part related to government leaders setting the right example. An autograph manuscript fragment on scrap paper, being edits Gandhi was making for publication of the speech, bears this out, as he praises leaders for connecting with the people. He was hopeful, optimistic, and inspiring, even in the face of danger. This piece of paper may well be the last thing Gandhi ever wrote in private hands.
Perhaps the greatest of Gandhi’s attributes as a leader and a human was his belief in equality, even on a subject so close to his own heart – faith. In a 1931 letter, Gandhi expresses his statement on the subject: “…all the great faiths of the world are equal.” His interest was not in converting anyone to his religious beliefs, but rather to understand and respect the differences.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison never stopped imagining and innovating; as an inventor, he pushed the limits of science and technology at the turn of the 20th century and helped the U.S. become a leader in these fields.
Edison invented or improved upon the inventions of many devices, including the phonograph, the telegraph, storage batteries, and the telephone. One of his most important contributions, however, was bringing electric light to the masses via the light bulb and laying the wire necessary to illuminate whole cities. In an 1887 letter to his colleague John Kruesi, Edison announced the principle by which he would ensure safe laying of the wires lighting New York City. Here we see Edison’s practical yet inventive brain at work, always seeking a better way to refine his landmark inventions.
Albert Einstein
The impact of Albert Einstein’s work between 1905 and 1915 challenged many principles of physics that had been accepted for centuries. Yet he persisted in his groundbreaking work and became the most important scientist since Isaac Newton, and probably the most famous in history.
While he may not have realized that in his younger years when he proposed his theories of relativity, which earned the scorn of many colleagues, by 1954, Einstein well understood the significance of his research. In a signed letter to another scientist, he summarizes his life’s work and acknowledges that relativity supplanted Newtonian mechanics and changed our notion of space and time forever.
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch, served as a symbol of stability and continuity from 1952 to 2022. She is often described as a leader who led by example, demonstrating integrity, pragmatism, and strong values.
Like her ancestor Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II was also known for extending grace and mercy, which earned the respect of her subjects. In 1961, for example, the young queen signed a pardon to remit the prison sentence of a man who had already served four years.
