Early records of the U.S. Naval War College (RG-01)
Naval Historical Collection, U.S. Naval War College
686 Cushing RoadNewport, RI 02841-1207
Tel: 401-841-2435
email: nhc@usnwc.edu
Website: https://usnwcarchives.org/
Historical note
Chronology
| Date | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1882 | Coaster’s Harbor Island is ceded to the U.S. government from Rhode Island | |
| 4 Jun 1883 | William E. Chandler, Secretary of the Navy, accepts Coaster’s Harbor Island for the U.S. Navy via General Order 33 | |
| 6 Oct 1884 | General Order 325 establishes the Naval War College in Newport | |
| 6 Oct 1884-1886 | Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce named the first President, Naval War College | |
| 8 Sep 1885 | First lecture given | |
| 1886-1889 | Captain A. T. Mahan assumes his first term as NWC President | |
| 1886 | First lecture on war gaming given by William McCarty Little | |
| 11 Jan 1889 | Consolidation of NWC with the Naval Torpedo Station ordered by the Navy Department | |
| 1889-1892 | Captain Caspar F. Goodrich begins the first of two terms as college president | |
| 1890 | Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by Mahan is published | |
| 1890-1891 | No courses held. Bureau of Navigations cites shortage of officers | |
| May 1892 | Luce Hall is completed – first building constructed for NWC | |
| 1892-1893 | Mahan’s second term as President | |
| 1893 | No course held | |
| 1893-1893 | Commander Charles H. Stockton assumes his first term as President | |
| 4 Oct 1893 | First visit by a Secretary of the Navy, Hilary A. Herbert | |
| 1893-1896 | Captain Henry C. Taylor named President, Naval War College | |
| 1896-1898 | Goodrich’s second term as President | |
| 1898-1900 | Stockton’s second term as President | |
| Mar 1898- Nov 1898 | All activities suspended due to United States participation in the Spanish-American War | |
| 1900-1903 | Rear Admiral French E. Chadwick named President | |
| 1903-1906 | Captain Charles S. Sperry becomes tenth President, Naval War College | |
| Jun 1904 | New library (present day Mahan Hall) is completed | |
| 1906-1909 | Rear Admiral John Porter Merrell serves as President | |
| 1909-1911 | Rear Admiral Raymond P. Rodgers serves as President | |
| 1911-1913 | Term of Captain William L. Rodgers, the last non-flag officer to serve as President | |
| 1913-1917 | Rear Admiral Austin M. Knight serves as President | |
| 1917 | Rear Admiral William S. Sims begins his first term as President | |
| 1917-1918 | Academic activities suspended due to World War I |
