Year: 1871




Dennis II. Mahan, Professor Of Military snd


Civil Engineering mt West Point.


Professor Denni II. Mahan OF West Point, re.
nowned as an eminent military engineer, whose
works have become standard in military circles the
world over committed suicide yesterday forenoon
by jumping from the steamboat Mary Powell into
the river or Verplanck's Point.


Professor Aahan was last June the sixth Oldest
graduate living of the Military Academy. He was
born In New York, and in 1920 was appointed q
cadet at West Point from the State OF Virginia.
where his parents were then living. On the 1st OF
July 1924, he graduated and was appointed in the
army to brevet second lieutenancy in the Corps OF
Engineers. and was promoted the same day TO first
leutenancy. After graduating he remained a. west
Point for three years. two years in the
capacity Of Assistant Professor OF Mathematics.
He was Assistant Professor OF Engineering
from August 81, 1926 TO August /, 1925,
when he was sent to Europe on professional duty,
by order OF the War Department. He renamed
abroad for four years, being attached meanwhile,
by authority Of the French Minister Of War, pupil
to the military school of engineers and arti erists
at Metz Alter passing through the usual course OF
studies at the school he was graduated second in
his class-this high honor never before having been
accorded to foreign pupil. Indeed, 1t was sup
posed at the time that had young Mahan not been

Shortly after hH return from Europe Lieutenant
Mahan was appointed acting professor Of engineer
ing, and two years after TINS appointment was made
professor OF military and civil engineering, posi-
ton he occupied up to the time OF his death.


During the controversy between the city Of
wheeling and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in
1885, as TO the true and proper route TO the city,
Professor Mahan was apo inted Dy the Governor OF
Virginia as member or board OF engineers 10
decide quarrel. In 1885 he wrote his celebrated
sTreatise on Field FOrtl1catons," and the year fol-
lowing published MS elementary Course OF Civil
Engineering for the use OF cadets OF United
States Military Academy His other works were
elementary Treatise on Advanced Guard, Out.
elementary Treatise on Industrial Drawing" ''Ad-
dltOns to Moseeg's Mechanical Principles Of En-
QlneerinQ and Architecture" oil which he edited an
American edition; 'srreatise Fortfcat1on Draw
ing and stereOtOmy." and elements OF Permanent
the late civil war and created quite a sensation
when 1t made It's appearance, and 1t has main-
in this country and abroad ever since. Professor
Mahan was member OF the Geographical Society
OF France and OF many scientific associations IN the
United States. and was made corporatOr OF the
National Academy Of Sciences In 1868. In 1887
Brown University and Princeton College conferred
upon him the degree Of A. NJ. In 1852 he was hon.
Ored with the title Of LII. D. by William and Mary
College, Virginia. and by Brown University. and by
Although Professor Mahan was only one OF several
professors at the Academy, and not by any means
because OF his particular department above any Of
his colleagues III authority, ne was really for many
years past the ruling spirit OF the Academy To be
sure there was always IN years past as there Is row
to be- he is now supposed to De, the ruler or Its
every day destinies the guardian OF its interests
superintendent OF West Point in all matters that
related to the Academy and what were not OF Il
minor character was Professor Mahan. owing to his
great experience an old professor and resident
at the post his counsel and advice as to what
should and what should not be done with this, that
and the other department. OF the institution were
always received with the utmost consideration by
the authorities at Washington, ana always acted
upon lust as ne wanted them to De acted upon; and
to this more than to anything else were due the
many changes, counter changes and small fights
among the West Point authorities that were wont
to break out every once IN while during the past
ten or fifteen years. AS the Professor grew in age
his desire to lead OF old grew also. and he DIS
covered not long ago that, deservedly or not he had
succeeded during hls career In making for himself
many and powerful enemies VINO @ IL Is believed ,,,
Board OF Visitors to recommend his retirement.
which they did last June. When the Board suggested
his retirement he was undoubtedly as Young, inJel-
lectually as when he graduated at Metz; but his
physical infirmities were such as to be serious
labOTs ana Ortentimes I. was noticed that he could
not listen to recitation with that patience which
course decided the Board after due consideration,
and the retirement was suggested The Professor
so long at West Point had become identified with
Its every interest; mad done SO much Tor lis repua-


IS son To-Day a the MODEL nst,tuon Of its kind
in the world, that the idea OF being torn
aWay from IL In his Old are, now
mat the day Of his usefulness had passed--thrown
aside as IL were TO make room for one OF his stu
dents-was too much for the Old man TO bear, and
IL s quite possible that bro0dlng the idea may
have thrown his mind or It's balance ana that
while thus suffering knowing not what he did, ne
TOOK his lie. The death OF the learned old man
Will be received with sorrow every where throughout
the army; for although he had his faults tand who
mas not u there is not now in the army young
old graduate OF West Point who does not, in great
part owe his present standing on the roll OF mill
tary fame and his knowledge or the great OF war
to The Old Professors instructions ana teachings.