Pierre Eugene du Simitiere

Original design for the Great Seal, by Simitiere.

Raising the Liberty Pole in New York City, 1770 pen and ink drawing by Simitiere depicting one of six liberty poles to be alternately raised and later removed over ten years in confrontations among the Sons of Liberty and British troops stationed in the city prior to the American Revolutionary War.

Pierre Eugene du Simitiere (1736?, Geneva, Switzerland—October 1784, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) — born Pierre-Eugène Ducimetière (French pronunciation: [pjɛʁ øʒɛn dysimtjɛʁ]) — was a philosopher, member of the American Philosophical Society, naturalist, American patriot, and portrait painter.

Biography

Born in Geneva, du Simitiere's original name was fr:Pierre-Eugène Ducimetière or Pierre-Eugène du Cimetière. He spelt his name Pierre-Eugène du Simitière or en:Pierre Eugene du Simitiere after settling in Philadelphia.

Du Simitiere served as the artistic consultant for the committees that designed the Great Seal of the United States, and in 1776 he submitted the first proposed design to include the Eye of Providence, which element was eventually adopted. He also suggested the adoption of the U.S. motto E pluribus unum ("Out of Many, One") and was partially responsible for the Seal of New Jersey.

Legacy

His coin collection was the first record in Early American history to serve as collateral on a loan granted to him by William Dilwyn. This collection later on was sold at public auction by Matthew Clarkson and Ebenezer Hazard, on March 19, 1785 at Philadelphia. Included in the sale as Lot #19 was "A Mahogany cabinet containing ancient and modern Gold, Silver, and Copper Coins and Medals." This sale precedes all sales in Atinelli's Numisgraphics by 43 years and is considered to be the first known coin auction sale in America. An advertisement for this sale reposes in the Archives of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Du Simitiere has living descendants throughout France and the USA.

References

• Orosz, Joel J., The Eagle That is Forgotten (Wolfenboro, 1988)