OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : JUNE 4, 1872. 475 



received in 1820, through the influence of Hon. Thomas Newton, of 

 the United States House of Representatives, an appointment as cadet 

 at the United States Military Academy. Entering the Academy at 

 the age of eighteen, he at once hecame the marked man of his class, 

 and took the foremost rank. While only a third-classman, he was 

 appointed acting assistant professor of mathematics On July 1, 

 1824, he graduated at the head of his class, and entered the corps of 

 engineers of the army. He continued attached to this corps, with the 

 rank of second lieutenant of engineers, until January 1, 1832, but 

 saw no actual service, being always on detached duty. From 1824 to 

 1826, he was serving at the Military Academy ; the first year, as as- 

 sistant professor of mathematics, the second, as principal assistant pro- 

 fessor of engineering. The next four years, from August, 1826, to 

 June, 1830, were spent in Europe, on professional duty, by order of 

 the War Department. During the last year of this sojourn in Europe, 

 he was, by authority of the French Minister of War, attached as a 

 pupil to the military school of artillerists and engineers at Metz. At 

 that time there was no other place or school which could give that 

 special training which so thoroughly fitted him for the duties to which 

 he was to be called immediately upon his return to his own country. 

 Metz, with all the glories of its historic renown as the bulwark of 

 France, was also the thorough exemplification of the best systems of 

 fortification devised by the genius of Vauban and Cormontaigne ; and 

 here, if anywhere, the earnest student would become thoroughly im- 

 pressed with the love of his art, and initiated into all its mysteries. 

 Mahan, on his return home, was at once appointed acting professor of 

 engineering at the Military Academy, and finally, in 1832, was ap- 

 pointed professor, — a post which he filled with distinguished honor 

 until his death on the 16th September, 1871. 



In order to appreciate the full influence of his character and attain- 

 ments in this position, we must go back to the period when he assumed 

 its duties, and see what was the state of engineering science at the 

 time. The student of the present day will find it hard to realize what 

 the actual state of knowledge then was. Professional books were 

 rare, and hardly existed except in foreign languages ; and the number 

 of those who had the desire and ability to consult them was still rarer. 

 Military engineering was a meagre conglomeration of a few detached 

 practices rather than principles ; and civil engineering, not having yet 

 received the impetus which the railroad system has since given it, 



