WILLIAM EATON(1761 - 1811) U.S. Army officer active in the Tripoli and First Barbary Wars. Manuscript D.S. as Navy agent for the Barbary Regencies, 1p., oblong, 8vo., n.p., June 20, 1804, in which Eaton signs a contract for a loan, in part: "...For value received I promise to pay Styphen Kendal Albron & son the estate of Eli Kendal deceased two hundred ninety dollars in two years with the lawful interest to be paid yearly and every year from the date by writing my hand this 20th of June A.D. 1804...". Boldly signed "William Eaton" with his paraph below the signature. Jefferson's administration commissioned Eaton on May 26, 1804 to run the United States' first covert overseas operation, with the stipulation that Eaton raise the funds under his own name in secret to be reimbursed at a later date (he was not). It is interesting to note that Eaton wrote "from" after writing "in two years" and then crossed it out, perhaps not wishing to reveal any mission details or simply perhaps not knowing how long his overland commando raid to topple Tripoli would take to complete. Slight foxing, else very good.