Leeman to discuss founding of U.S. Naval Academy

Dr. William Leeman, assistant professor of history, will explore the founding of the U.S. Naval Academy during a presentation scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 18. “Educating Officers and Gentlemen: The Naval Academy Debate and American Nationalism in the Early Republic” will be held at 4 p.m. in the McKillop Library special collections room.

The United States established an academy for educating future army officers at West Point in 1802. Why, then, did it take this maritime nation almost half a century to create a similar school for the navy? Leeman’s presentation will examine the controversial origins of the U.S. Naval Academy and the national debate that led to its founding in Annapolis in 1845.

Leeman’s primary scholarly interests are the American Revolution and Early Republic, the Civil War, the American presidency, American military and naval history, and Rhode Island history. His book, “The Long Road to Annapolis: The Founding of the Naval Academy and the Emerging American Republic” won the 2011 George Pendleton Prize awarded by the Society for History in the Federal Government.

Light refreshments will be served following Leeman’s presentation.