The First Class at Annapolis

American Minute from William J. Federer

The U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduated its first class on JUNE 10, 1854.

The Academy was established under George Bancroft, Secretary of Navy for President James Polk. On June 16, 1845, Polk issued Order 27 to Secretary Bancroft: "The President...with heartfelt sorrow announces to the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps the death of Andrew Jackson...The 8th day of June, about 6 o'clock, he resigned his spirit to his Heavenly Father...He believed the liberties of his country imperishable... He departed from this life in a full hope of a blessed immortality through the merits and atonement of the Redeemer."

George Bancroft, known as the "father of American history" for compiling the nation's first comprehensive record, wrote in Progress of Mankind: "The Divine Being should...be known, not as a distant Providence...but as God present in the flesh...The consciousness of an incarnate God carried peace into the bosom of humanity."

George Bancroft continued: "The idea of GOD WITH US dwelt and dwells in every system of thought that can pretend to vitality; in every oppressed people, whose struggles to be free have the promise of success; in every soul that sighs for redemption."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.