SYLVANUS THAYER - (1785-1872) - Army Engineer, born
Braintree, Mass. Graduated at Dartmouth College (1807) at
West Point (1808). Served in War of 1812 on Niagara
frontier under Dearborn on Lake Champlain in Wade
Hampton's division, and with Moses Porter in defense of
Norfolk, Va. As suuperintendent of U.S. Military Academy
(1817-35), reorganized that institution, being styled
"Father of West Point". Endowed scientific academy and
free liabrary at Braintree and (1887) school of
architecture and civil engineering at Dartmouth.