1850
A process of reorganization, designed
chiefly to avoid interruption of and fragmentation in the education
of midshipmen, is undertaken:
* School is placed under the Chief, Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography
* Post of Commandant of Midshipmen is created. Incumbent serves
as executive officer and instructor in tactics and seamanship.
* Uniform is designed for acting midshipmen.
* USS Preble is assigned to the academy as a ship for annual summer
cruises making an uninterrupted four-year course possible.
July 1, 1850
Commander Cornelius K. Stribling becomes
superintendent.
School is renamed the United States Naval Academy.
A consecutive four-year course of study is adapted.
1851
Department of Drawing is established.
1852
The Preble makes a foreign summer cruise.
First foreign navy visit to the Naval Academy -- Royal Dutch Navy
frigate Prince of Orange.
August 31, 1852
Appointments to the Naval Academy come
under the control of Congress.
1853
Construction of gas works completed. Naval
Academy becomes one of the earliest institutions in U.S. to have
central heat and light.
Department of Astronomy, Navigation and Surveying
is established.
May 7, 1853
First Naval Academy Band arrives.
November 1, 1853
Commander Louis M. Goldsborough becomes
superintendent.
June 10, 1854
First graduation exercise is conducted
in the new chapel at noon as members of the class of 1854 (6 graduates)
complete a full formal course of instruction at the Naval Academy.
1857
New hospital is built for $13,000.
September 15, 1857
Captain George S. Blake becomes superintendent.
1858
First approved midshipmen's association,
the Lawrence Literary Society, is organized.
The Japanese bell is presented by Mrs. Matthew C. Perry. It had
been given to Perry by the regent of the Loo Choo (Ryukyu) Islands
during his expedition to Japan.
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