UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, an institution of higher learning conducted by the U.S. Navy Department and located at Annapolis, Md., for the purpose of preparing young men to enter the lowest commissioned ranks of the Navy and Marine Corps. It is the principal source of officers. It was founded as the Naval School in 1845 by the Hon. George Bancroft, his torian, educator and secretary of the Navy, to improve the then unsatisfactory methods of instructing midshipmen (q.v.). At first the course was five years, of which only the first and last were spent at the school, the intervening three years being spent on board ships on active service. It was reorganized in 1850-51 as the U.S. Naval Academy, with a course of study of four consecutive years. A summer practice cruise replaced the omitted sea service, and gave better opportunities for intensive training.
During the Civil War the academy was moved to Newport, R. I., but was brought back to Annapolis in 1865. In the follow ing years great improvements were effected in the organization and curriculum. During the Civil, Spanish-American and World Wars, the course was shortened to provide more officers for the fleets. During the World War large classes of reserve officers were also trained at the academy.
Under the superintendent, the academy is organized into the following departments: the executive department, headed by the commandant of midshipmen, who is charged with interior dis cipline, drills and tactical instruction ; and the academic depart ments of seamanship and navigation, ordnance and gunnery, ma rine engineering, mathematics, electrical engineering, English, his tory and government, languages, hygiene and physical training. The superintendent, commandant of midshipmen, and the heads of the academic departments constitute the academic board, which determines policies. There are also medical and supply depart ments, station ships, a hospital, a rifle range and a post-graduate school.
Considering that the Naval Academy does not attempt to pro duce specialists in any one subject, the course is equal to those of the best colleges and technical schools. Candidates are ap pointed upon nomination by the president from the United States at large, by the vice-president, and from the several States and Territories upon nomination by the senators, representatives and delegates in Congress. Also i oo each year from the Navy and Marine Corps and so from the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve by competitive examination; and 4o by competitive examination from among the sons of officers, soldiers, sailors and marines who died as a result of the World War. The entrance examinations are
designed to admit competent graduates of first-class secondary schools. The physical requirements are rigid. A fourth-classman or "plebe" enters in June or July, between 16 and 20 years of age, and spends the summer in drills designed to fit him for his new en vironment. Of the next three succeeding summers, two are spent on three months' practice cruises in battleships, and one is devoted to practical instruction in aviation, engineering, navigation and seamanship at the Naval Academy, in addition to a month's coas tal cruise in destroyers. The academic year runs from October to June. The course covers higher mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, naval construction, electricity, seamanship, communi cations, military and international law, elementary strategy and tactics, military tactics, aeronautics, ordnance and gunnery, navi gation, English, naval history, modern history, government, French, Spanish, German or Italian, hygiene and physical training. Theoretical and practical instruction are combined to the fullest extent. Graduates are awarded degrees of Bachelor of Science.
In the early part of the century, the academy was almost com pletely rebuilt. The grounds, comprising 225ac. in Naval Academy proper, present a most pleasing appearance, with imposing build ings in granite, reinforced concrete, white brick and terra cotta, in the French Renaissance style, after the designs of Ernest Flagg. There are 450 major buildings, including officers' quarters, the estimated value of which is (194o) about $31,500,000. In 1939 there were 2,307 midshipmen.
In 1909 the post-graduate school was established. Selected officers are sent there from sea for a year or more of advanced work to qualify them in design, repair, construction and opera tion of material. One or more years of instruction at a civilian university or technical school is provided for selected groups of these officers. In 1927 a "general line course" was established, consisting of a year's work at the post-graduate school in pro fessional subjects, followed by a year of practical work else where on shore.
See Benjamin, The United States Naval Academy; Earle, Life at the U.S. Naval Academy; Soley, Historical Sketch of the United States Naval Academy; Naval Academy Registers ; and Regulations Govern ing the Admission of Candidates into the U.S. Naval Academy, pub lished by the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department. (C. W. N.)