The Naval School was founded in Annapolis, Maryland in the wake
of a shocking scandal at sea on this day in history, Oct. 10, 1845.

The renowned military institute was renamed the U.S. Naval
Academy in 1850.

The school was established following the discovery of a planned
mutiny on the Atlantic Ocean aboard U.S. Navy brig Somers. 

U.S. Naval Academy in 1853.

The 17th U.S. Secretary of the Navy
(1845 – 1846)

Civil War hero Admiral David Dixon Porter
became superintendent in 1865.

USS Constitution and Santee tied up in the background.
Other ships not identified.

The United States Naval Academy opened in Annapolis,
Maryland, with 50 midshipmen students and seven
professors. Known as the Naval School until 1850,
the curriculum included mathematics and navigation,
gunnery and steam, chemistry, English, natural
philosophy, and French.

The Naval School officially became the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1850, and a new curriculum went into effect, requiring
midshipmen to study at the academy for four years and to
train aboard ships each summer—the basic format that
remains at the academy to this day.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

The United States Naval Academy opened in Annapolis, Maryland,
with 50 midshipmen students and seven professors. Known as the
Naval School until 1850, the curriculum included mathematics and navigation, gunnery and steam, chemistry, English, French along
with natural philosophy.

The Naval School officially became the U.S. Naval Academy in 1850,
and a new curriculum went into effect, requiring midshipmen to
study at the academy for four years and to train aboard ships each
summer—the basic format that remains at the academy to this day.