state, for use on documentary paper in an effort to raise money for support of the undeclared Quasi-War with France. Under President John Adams, the United States Navy was quickly expanded, which required considerable funding. In 1800, Scot engraved the second series of stamps, known as the Second Federal Issue, to support the Quasi-War, and also the First Barbary War. Scot also engraved the seal for the U.S. Navy Department in 1798, and seal dies for the U.S. Department of State in 1802 and 1817. The current Federal seals for the Navy and State Departments, along with the Great Seal of the United States, retain much of the designs from earlier dies engraved by Robert Scot. Death Robert Scot died in office on November 3, 1823, a month after his 78th birthday. United States Mint Director Robert Patterson wrote a letter to President James Monroe on the day that Scot died, stating "It has now become my painful duty to announce to you the sudden decease of our Ingraver [sic], Robert Scot, which took place this morning. He returned to rest last night, apparently in his ordinary state of health. He was, on opening his door in the morning, discovered to have recently expired." Scot was succeeded by William Kneass on January 29, 1824. Bibliography Arner, Robert D. Dobson's Encyclopædia: The Publisher, Text, and Publication of America's First Britannica, 1789–1803. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991. Dougall, Richardson and Richard Patterson. The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States. Washington, D.C: Department of State, 1978. Newman, Eric P. The Early Paper Money of America. Fifth Edition. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications, 2008. Nyberg, William F. Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty. Staunton, Virginia: American History Press, 2015. Includes bibliography of primary and secondary sources, appendix of documented Robert Scot engravings. Tompkins, Steve M. Early United States Half Dollars: Volume 1 1794–1807: Peculiar, Missouri: Steve M. Tompkins, 2015. References United States Mint engravers Artists from Edinburgh 1745 births 1823 deaths