Presidents; the President of the unrecognized breakaway Confederate States of America; presidents of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Philippines; numerous famous generals; and 76 Medal of Honor recipients. == History == === Colonial period, founding, and early years === The Continental Army first occupied West Point, New York, on 27 January 1778, and it is the oldest continuously operating Army post in the United States.
Between 1778 and 1780, the Polish engineer and military hero Tadeusz Kościuszko oversaw the construction of the garrison defenses.
Between 1778 and 1780, the Polish engineer and military hero Tadeusz Kościuszko oversaw the construction of the garrison defenses.
With the peace after the American Revolutionary War, various ordnance and military stores were left deposited at West Point. "Cadets" underwent training in artillery and engineering studies at the garrison since 1794.
In 1801, shortly after his inauguration as president, Thomas Jefferson directed that plans be set in motion to establish at West Point the United States Military Academy.
It is the oldest of the five American service academies and educates cadets for commissioning into the United States Army. The academy was founded in 1802, one year after President Thomas Jefferson directed that plans be set in motion to establish the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Congress formally authorized the establishment and funding of the school with the Military Peace Establishment Act of 1802, which Jefferson signed on 16 March.
The academy officially commenced operations on 4 July 1802.
The academy graduated Joseph Gardner Swift, its first official graduate, in October 1802.
He later returned as Superintendent from 1812 to 1814.
The impending War of 1812 caused the United States Congress to authorize a more formal system of education at the academy and increased the size of the Corps of Cadets to 250. In 1817, Colonel Sylvanus Thayer became the Superintendent and established the curriculum, elements of which are still in use .
He later returned as Superintendent from 1812 to 1814.
The impending War of 1812 caused the United States Congress to authorize a more formal system of education at the academy and increased the size of the Corps of Cadets to 250. In 1817, Colonel Sylvanus Thayer became the Superintendent and established the curriculum, elements of which are still in use .
The academy was the only engineering school in the country until the founding of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1824.
The school experienced a rapid modernization during the 1850s, often romanticized by the graduates who led both sides of the Civil War as the "end of the Old West Point era." New barracks brought better heat and gas lighting, while new ordnance and tactics training incorporated new rifle and musket technology and accommodated transportation advances created by the steam engine.
The first cadets from Southern states were re-admitted in 1868, and 1870 saw the admission of the first black cadet, James Webster Smith of South Carolina.
The first cadets from Southern states were re-admitted in 1868, and 1870 saw the admission of the first black cadet, James Webster Smith of South Carolina.
Smith endured harsh treatment and was eventually dismissed for academic deficiency under controversial circumstances in 1874.
Flipper of Georgia became the first black graduate in 1877, graduating 50th in a class of 76.
Two of the most notable graduates during this period were George Washington Goethals from the class of 1880, and John J.
Pershing from the class of 1886.
Since 1959, cadets have also been eligible for an interservice commission in one of the other armed services provided that they meet that service's eligibility standards.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05