Who founded the United States Military Academy at West Point?

Question

a)Thomas Jefferson,b)John Pershing,c)William Sherman,d)George Patton.

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson established West Point on March 16, 1802

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Point#History
"West Point was first a military post under the command of Benedict Arnold. Established in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States."

"The site was selected for the construction of a fort by George Washington, and the fortifications were designed in 1778 by Tadeusz Kościuszko"

"George Washington quickly realized the need for a national military academy, but his Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson argued that there was no provision in the Constitution which allowed for the creation of a military academy. However, when Jefferson became president, he signed legislation establishing the United States Military Academy on March 16, 1802; the school opened on July 4 of the same year."

Answer 2

the answer is A, however,
George Washington first proposed a military academy in 1783, but critics opposed this relatively new idea of a special school to train army officers as too European. They deemed it incompatible with democratic institutions, fearing the creation of a military aristocracy. Finally, two decades after Washington’s first proposal, on 16 March 1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened. It stood on a commanding bluff overlooking the Hudson River at West Point, New York, 50 miles north of Manhattan.

Answer 3

Thomas Jefferson signed legislating the establishment of a military academy at the site. However, George Washington recognized the strategic position of West Point during the Revolutionary War and had the Continental Army build a Fort at that site in 1778. He occupied it as his headquarters in 1779...It is the oldest continually operated military post in the U.S.

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson did not found it but he did sign legislation establishing it in 1802. But West Point was around when Washington was fighting the British.
http://www.usma.edu/history.asp

Answer 5

Compare the date it was founded with the date of birth for those men and the answer will be obvious.