SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI, an organization formed by the officers of the American Revolutionary Army in May, 1783, a few weeks before the army's disbandment, for the purposes of promoting friendship and union, of cherishing the memory of events through which they had passed, and of aiding members and their families in case of need. Suggestion of such an association is credited to Major General Henry Knox (q.v.) and its formation took place at the headquarters of Baron von Steuben near Fishkill Landing, N.Y. George Washington was chosen the first president and remained in that office until his death. State societies, auxiliary to the general society, were formed in the 13 states and a branch was also formed in France. The badge, a golden eagle, suspended by a ribbon, contained in its center a device representing Cincinnatus at his plough receiving the Roman senators who came to offer him a sword. The consti tution provided that, in case of death of a member, the eldest male descendant was entitled to wear the badge and enjoy the privi leges of the society. In failure of direct male descent the honour passed to male descendants through intervening female descend ants, and in case of their failure to collateral descendants judged worthy of becoming members. This hereditary provision aroused
opposition for a time from those, especially anti-Federalists, who feared it would result in the creation of an hereditary nobility which would assume to itself political and military offices. The fear, easily understood, did not prove justified by subsequent events, for with the death of the officers themselves the society all but died out, most of the state auxiliaries passing entirely out of existence. Toward the close of the 19th century the society was revived by eligible descendants, and, by 1902, the last of the original 13 state auxiliaries was reconstituted. The state auxili aries now hold annual meetings and the general society a meeting every three years. The number of members reported at the trien nial meeting in 1926 was Proceedings of the state auxiliaries and the general society are issued after each meeting. See also A. H. Mattox, History of the Cincinnati Society (188o), and F. A. Foster, The Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati (1923).