Robert E. Lee graduated 2nd in his class, but was referred to as the marble man because he didn't earn on demerits, my question is who graduated 1st in his class? I sent 2 letters to Shelby Foote regarding this question and he never responded and now he has passed, so I thought I would pose it here.
2006-10-12 03:47:36 · 3 answers · asked by Buzlite 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The definitive reference for your question is "The Register" of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy, published by the Association of Graduates of West Point. It can be found in MOST large libraries across the country. The decennial editions (e.g. 1990, 2000; and also the 2002 Bicentennial Edition) include ALL graduates from the founding of the Academy in 1802. The annual editions in between start with graduating classes with living graduates.
To answer your specific questions, I find the following from the 2002 edition of The Register:
Robert E Lee, Cullum Number (index of Graduates) 542, graduated 2nd in the Class of 1829.
Charles Mason, Cullum Number 541, graduated 1st in the Class of 1829; upon graduation Mason served for two years as an Asst Prof of Engineering at West Point; he became a lawyer and served as the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court from 1838 to 1847, after which he was the President of several Railroads; he died in Burlington, IA on 27 Feb 1882.
I hope this helps.
2006-10-12 04:00:42 · answer #1 · answered by Brite Tiger 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Charles Mason
The Man who Graduated First to Robert E. Lee at West Point
Charles Mason was born in 1804, and was the one man who graduated ahead of Robert E. Lee in the West Point class of 1829. Charles graduated first; Lee was second. But, interestingly Mason did not serve in the military during the Civil War, but instead was a Copperhead.
2006-10-12 04:03:44 · answer #2 · answered by johnslat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why not contact the Museum at West Point? They have a website. You may do well there. By the way...great place to go also. The campus itself is closed to the public which is too bad because you can't get in to see the buildings and the cemetery. But the museum is outstanding. Recommended if you love military history.
2006-10-12 04:01:24 · answer #3 · answered by Quasimodo 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋