Who was the youngest USNA graduate?

[feldkappe]

Does anyone know who was the youngest graduate of the Naval Academy? When I was a boy, I was told by my great aunt that it was her uncle Harry H. Caldwell who graduated in 1891 at age 18. I actually have a photo of him as a cadet. A google search has come up empty on who the youngest graduate was. Does someone have the answer?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Unless its listed in Reef Points somewhere , I doubt if anyone will ever know.
I think its safe to say that Admissions in the early days of USNA were far less structured than it is now, and record keeping is a whole lot different, so certainly conceivable that an 18 year old could have graduated ...but confirmation would be hard to achieve. Sometimes its better to let a family story continue than trying to verify.

 

[justme]

Does anyone know who was the youngest graduate of the Naval Academy? When I was a boy, I was told by my great aunt that it was her uncle Harry H. Caldwell who graduated in 1891 at age 18. I actually have a photo of him as a cadet. A google search has come up empty on who the youngest graduate was. Does someone have the answer?
Thanks in advance!

a quick google search found this:

Jerauld Wright - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

---Jerauld Wright was born on June 4, 1898 ...Wright entered the academy on July 31, 1914, the youngest midshipman to enter the academy since the American Civil War. Wright graduated on June 26, 1917, as part of the Class of 1918---

So, Wright graduated in 3 years and was the youngest to enter at that time since Civil War. So, doubtful anyone graduated younger from 1865 to 1918, but as mentioned, records were definitely less formal.

 

[feldkappe]

From the information I have (his Wikipedia page), Caldwell was born in Feb. 5, 1873 and entered the Academy in 1887 at 14 years old. Graduating in 1891. This would have made him younger than Wright who entered at age 16. So indeed, Caldwell may have been the youngest to enter the Academy. Thanks for your responses.

 

[THParent]

Not sure that Wikipedia is something to go by. My son's friends thought it would be fun to change the Wikipedia performance specifications of Yard Patrol Boats (YPs in USNA parlance). They reached cruising speeds of 75 knots out of four jet turbine engines developing over 10,000 shaft horsepower each, at one point back in 2020 during Covid restrictions.

Hopefully Great Aunt's Uncle Harry information is accurate, though.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

Not sure that Wikipedia is something to go by. My son's friends thought it would be fun to change the Wikipedia performance specifications of Yard Patrol Boats (YPs in USNA parlance). They reached cruising speeds of 75 knots out of four jet turbine engines developing over 10,000 shaft horsepower each, at one point back in 2020 during Covid restrictions.

Hopefully Great Aunt's Uncle Harry information is accurate, though.

.
Did they describe the power delivery in the Wiki write up? Is the power delivery to the props via a hydrostatic pump, high pressure lines, and hydrostatic transmission?

Hydrostatic drives are made to operate at full load. You always want to operate at the highest pressures/lowest volume of hydrostatic fluid … less mechanical failure …. The turbines must be spinning near peak rpm when the drive is engaged …

… It’s probably a really loud setup.

 

[NavyHoops]

Not sure that Wikipedia is something to go by. My son's friends thought it would be fun to change the Wikipedia performance specifications of Yard Patrol Boats (YPs in USNA parlance). They reached cruising speeds of 75 knots out of four jet turbine engines developing over 10,000 shaft horsepower each, at one point back in 2020 during Covid restrictions.

Hopefully Great Aunt's Uncle Harry information is accurate, though.

I mean, I don’t know about the other YPs, but YP687, definitely reached those speeds off the coast of New York when I was at the helm.

 

[Heatherg21]

Reminds me of the USNA hack of USMA Wikipedia page the fall of our DS plebe year.
I don’t have the links but it was epic.

 

[usna1985]

Keep in mind that midshipmen training was VERY different in the 1800s than it is today. Much of the time was spent at sea and I'm not sure the curriculum was always 4 year.s Thus, while interesting, comparing what happened >150 years ago to today is like apples and oranges.

You might check with the USNA Museum. They might know the answer or be able to direct you to official sources.

 

[Huursoldaat]

Keep in mind that midshipmen training was VERY different in the 1800s than it is today. Much of the time was spent at sea and I'm not sure the curriculum was always 4 year.s Thus, while interesting, comparing what happened >150 years ago to today is like apples and oranges.

You might check with the USNA Museum. They might know the answer or be able to direct you to official sources.

During the most recent PPW, there was a presentation by the History department on the History of the USNA. It was really good and highly recommend it for anybody that has the chance to go. There were definitely a couple of periods where the curriculum was 2 years long and then I think during WW1 and WW2, they graduated some classes in 3 years using a condensed curriculum.

To the OP, it would be an interesting question to the pose to the History department at USNA. They might be able to find an answer for you.

 

[feldkappe]

Thank you all for your comments.