Simeon Magruder Levy

Simeon Magruder Levy
Nickname(s) "Simon"
Born January 1774
Pennsylvania
Died March 1807, aged 33
Georgia
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1793–1805
Rank Second Lieutenant (USA)
Battles/wars Battle of Maumee Rapids

Simeon Magruder Levy (January 1774 – March 1807), also known as Simon Levy,[lower-alpha 1] was an officer in the United States Army. He was the second overall graduate and first Jewish graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point).

Early life

Levy was born in January 1774 in Pennsylvania.[lower-alpha 2] His parents were Levy Andrew Levy, a fur trader and land speculator, and his wife Susanna. The boy's birth date is not documented, but his bris (ritual circumcision), which is usually done on the eighth day, was performed on January 25, 1774 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[3] His family moved to Baltimore, Maryland circa 1799.[2]

Levy joined the United States Army as a sergeant in 1793, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Maumee Rapids (also known as the Battle of Fallen Timbers) on August 20, 1794 as an Orderly sergeant.[4] His commanding officer, Captain Benjamin Lockwood, recommended Levy as a cadet for the newly founded United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York.[3]

Later life

West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir celebrating the chapel's 25th anniversary.

Levy entered West Point on March 2, 1801, accepted due to merit and skill in mathematics, and graduated second in a class of two cadets on October 12, 1802. His classmate was Joseph Gardner Swift.[3][5] Levy may have first served as an instructor at West Point, then served as an engineer at Fort James Jackson and Fort Wilkinson, Georgia.[3]

He became ill and resigned his commission on September 30, 1805. He died in March 1807 in Georgia. His place of burial is uncertain.[2]

He was the second individual and the first Jew to graduate from West Point. The West Point Jewish Chapel was built at the academy beginning in 1982; it opened on November 13, 1984. As of 2009, over 900 Jews have graduated from the USMA.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Levy is known to have signed his name as "Simeon", but records often record his name as "Simon".[1]
  2. ↑ Jewish male infants are usually circumcised on the 8th day. Levy's circumcision was on January 25, 1774 (a Tuesday in the Georgian calendar),[2] so he was most likely born on Monday, January 17, 1774.

References

  1. ↑ Photocopy of document at the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati as reported by Ira Rosenwaike.
  2. 1 2 3 Rosenwaike, Ira (Sep 1971 – Jun 1972). "Simon M. Levy: West Point Graduate" (PDF). American Jewish Historical Quarterly (1961-1978) (Stevens Institute of Technology) 1–4 (61). Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dr. Marcus, Jacob Rader. United States Jewry, 1776-1985 1. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-8143-2186-0.
  4. ↑ Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903 1. Washington, D.C. p. 629.
  5. ↑ Cullum, George W. Biographical Register of Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point 1. New York. p. 91.
  6. ↑ Gilligan, Tommy (November 19, 2009). "West Point celebrates 25th anniversary of Jewish Chapel openin (sic)". United States Army. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
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