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Thayer (SYLVANUS an American military)

SYLVANUS, an American military officer; born in Braintree, Mass., June 9, 1785; was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1807; and the

United States Military Academy in 1808; and assigned to the Engineer Corps. He was employed on engineer duty on the E. coast, and as an instructor of mathematics at the Military Academy; was promoted to 1st lieutenant, July 1, 1812; took part in the War of 1812-1815; was chief engineer on the Niagara frontier, at Lake Champlain, and in the defense of Norfolk, Va.; was promoted captain of engineers in 1813, and brevetted major in 1815 for distinguished services. In 1815 he was sent to Europe to examine military works and schools, and to study the operations of the allied armies before Paris; was recalled in 1817 on being appointed superintendent of the United States Military Academy, which post he held till 1833, when he resigned. During his administration he organized the institution on its present basis. He was brevetted major in 1823, lieutenant-colonel in 1828, and colonel in 1833. In 1838-1863 he was engaged in the construction of defenses in and about Boston harbor. He was promoted lieutenantcolonel of engineers in 1838, colonel in 1863, and brevet brigadier-general May 31, 1863, and was retired the following day. He was a member of various scientific associations; gave $70,000 to found the Thayer School of Civil Engineering at Dartmouth College; $10,000 to Braintree for a public library; and bequeathed $300,000 for the endowment of an academy in Braintree. He was the author of "Papers on Practical Engineering" (1844). He died in South Braintree, Mass., Sept. 7, 1872. His body was reinterred in West Point, Nov. 8, 1877, where a statue was raised to his honor, which bears the inscription, "Colonel Thayer, Father of the United States Military Academy."