Simeon Magruder Levy

Simeon Magruder Levy (January 1774 – March 1807), also known as Simon Levy,[lower-alpha 1] was an officer in the United States Army. He was the second overall graduate and first Jewish graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point).

Simeon Magruder Levy
Nickname(s)"Simon"
BornJanuary 1774
Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 1807 (aged 33)
Georgia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1793–1805
RankSecond Lieutenant (USA)
Battles/warsBattle of Maumee Rapids

Early life

Levy was born in January 1774 in Pennsylvania.[lower-alpha 2] His parents were Levy Andrew Levy, a fur trader and land speculator, and his wife Susanna [Simon].[3] The boy's birth date is not documented, but his bris (ritual circumcision), which is usually done on the eighth day, was performed on January 25, 1774 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[4] In the 1790 US Census Andrew Levy was a resident of Washington County Maryland[5] The Levy family moved to Baltimore, Maryland circa 1799.[2]

Levy joined the United States Army as a sergeant in 1793, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Maumee Rapids (also known as the Battle of Fallen Timbers) on August 20, 1794 as an Orderly sergeant.[6] His commanding officer, Captain Benjamin Lockwood, recommended Levy as a cadet for the newly founded United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York.[4]

Later life
West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir celebrating the chapel's 25th anniversary.

Levy entered West Point on March 2, 1801, accepted due to merit and skill in mathematics, and graduated second in a class of two cadets on October 12, 1802. His classmate was Joseph Gardner Swift.[4][7] Levy may have first served as an instructor at West Point, then served as an engineer at Fort James Jackson and Fort Wilkinson, Georgia.[4]

He became ill and resigned his commission on September 30, 1805. He died in March 1807 in Georgia. His place of burial is uncertain.[2][8]

He was the second individual and the first Jew to graduate from West Point. The West Point Jewish Chapel was built at the academy beginning in 1982; it opened on November 13, 1984. As of 2009, over 900 Jews have graduated from the USMA.[9]

See also
  • Adolph Marix, first Jewish graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1868

Notes
  1. Levy is known to have signed his name as "Simeon", but records often record his name as "Simon".[1]
  2. Jewish male infants are usually circumcised on the 8th day. Levy's circumcision was on January 25, 1774 (a Tuesday in the Georgian calendar),[2] so he was most likely born on Monday, January 17, 1774.

References
  1. Photocopy of document at the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati as reported by Ira Rosenwaike.
  2. Rosenwaike, Ira (Sep 1971 – Jun 1972). "Simon M. Levy: West Point Graduate" (PDF). American Jewish Historical Quarterly. Stevens Institute of Technology. 1–4 (61). Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  3. Andress and Papers of Lancaster... Lancaster County Historical Society 1901 Volume 5 p.99
  4. Dr. Marcus, Jacob Rader (1989). United States Jewry, 1776-1985. 1. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-8143-2186-0.
  5. "Andrew Levy" listed as Head of Family with following remarks:Free White Males of 16 years and upward including heads of families: 1; Free White Males under 16 Years: 2; Free white females including heads of families (6); All other free white persons: 0; Slaves: 1". (North, S. N. D. Director Dept of Commerce and Labor Nureau of the Census “Heads of families at the First Census of the United States taken in the Year 1790 Maryland” Washington Government Printing Office 1907 .p.116)
  6. Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903. 1. Washington, D.C. p. 629.
  7. Cullum, George W. Biographical Register of Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 1. New York. p. 91.
  8. In regard to the place of his burial as Levy was of the Jewish religion the only Jewish place of worship in 1807 in the state of Georgia was located in Chatham County at Savannah-Congregation Mickve Israel (founded 1735 as Kahal Kadosh Mickva Israel (the Holy Congregation, the Hope of Israel). The Congregations’ burial ground was the Mordecai Sheftall Cemetery founded on August 2, 1773 located end of Coyle Street and used until approximately 1881. Although not proven this may hav e been his burial place.
  9. Gilligan, Tommy (November 19, 2009). "West Point celebrates 25th anniversary of Jewish Chapel openin (sic)". United States Army. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
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