Annapolis Naval Academy

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

a national academy for the instruction of future naval officers maintained at Annapolis, Maryland. It has training stations at Newport and San Francisco . It was founded in 1845. Each member of Congress, including both representatives and senators, is entitled to appoint two young men for instruction in the academy. The president has the appointment of fifteen cadets. The candidates are required to be not less than five feet two inches in height. They must be between sixteen and twenty years of age, and must be able to pass a rigid entrance examination in mathematics, history, geography, and English. New buildings have been erected at a cost of about $10,000,000. The school is considered one of the finest in the world. The course covers four years. Each school year consists of eight months of academic work and four months afloat. There are 100 instructors and 1,000 cadets. Graduates are sure of positions at a good salary. The admiral of the navy receives an annual salary of $13,500; rear admirals receive from $6,000 to $8,000; captains, $4,000; commanders, $3,500; lieutenant commanders, $3,000; lieutenants, $2,400; junior lieutenants, $2,000; ensigns, $1,700; midshipmen, $1,400. This is the salary for shore duty . While at sea officers are paid about one-tenth more. There are special allowances for meritorious service. Seamen receive from $21 to $35 a month. The cadets are known as midshipmen. They receive an allowance of $600 a year while in the academy. At the close of four years the young middy is given two years afloat at $1,400 a year, after which he is examined for promotion. Marriage is considered a sufficient reason for the dismissal of a midshipman. See Lafayette ; West Point