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 General George Washington, President General of the Society of the Cincinnati | |
| Named after | Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus |
|---|---|
| Established | May 13, 1783 |
| Founder | Henry Knox |
| Founded at | Fishkill, New York, US |
| Type | Lineage society |
| Headquarters | Anderson House, Washington, D.C., US |
| Coordinates | 38°54′39″N 77°02′52″W / 38.9107011°N 77.0477045°W |
Region served | United States and France |
Official language | English |
| Frank Keech Turner Jr. | |
| Joel Thomas Daves IV | |
| Francis Ellerbe Grimball | |
| William Postell Raiford, Ph.D. | |
Key people | Executive Director F. Anderson Morse |
Main organ | Triennial Meeting |
| Website | The Society of the Cincinnati The American Revolution Institute |
The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers who served in the Continental Army.
The Society has thirteen constituent societies in the United States and one in France. It was founded to perpetuate "the remembrance of this vast event" (the achievement of American Independence), "to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature," and "to render permanent the cordial affection subsisting among the officers" of the Continental Army who served in the Revolutionary War.
Now in its third century, the Society promotes public interest in the Revolution through its library and museum collections, publications, and other activities. It is the oldest patriotic, hereditary society in America.