Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument

Mexican War Monument

By Kevin W., March 15, 2008

1. Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker (SW, or Clemson, side)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[Southwest side of Monument]: To passed Midshipmen
H. A. Clemson.
and
J. R. Hynson
lost with the U. S. Brig Somers
off Vera Cruz
Dec. 8th, 1846
[Northeast side of Monument]: To Midshipmen
J. W. Pillsbury.
and
T. B. Shubrick.
the former drowned off Vera Cruz
July 27th, 1846
the latter killed at the Naval Battery
near Vera Cruz
March 25th, 1847
while in the discharge of their duties.

Erected 1848 by passed and other Midshipmen of the U. S. Navy as a tribute of respect.

Topics. This historical marker monument is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, Mexican-American.

Location. 38° 58.967′ N, 76° 29.104′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. Marker is located on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy, on Stribling Walk between Maryland Avenue and Bancroft Hall. A picture ID is required to enter the Academy grounds. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Annapolis MD 21402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At

Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker </b>(inscription on NE, or Pillsbury, side) image. Click for full size.

By Kevin W., March 15, 2008

2. Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker (inscription on NE, or Pillsbury, side)

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. Joseph (here, next to this marker); St. Damian (here, next to this marker); El Neptuno (here, next to this marker); One Hundredth Anniversary of the U.S. Naval Academy (within shouting distance of this marker); On this spot (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph Nicholson Home Site and Bandstand (about 300 feet away); Zimmerman Bandstand (about 300 feet away); The Markers on the Plaza (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.

Regarding Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument. The names of these four midshipmen, Clemson, Hynson, Pillsbury, and Shubrick, are inscribed around the marble face of the 1848 Mexican War monument. Although these four Midshipmen never set foot on the new "Naval School", their stories were well-known to the Midshipmen who attended the school at the time. Lest those who follow forget, Midshipmen collected enough money after the war to erect the Academy's first monument. The Mexican War Monument is a living testament to Midshipmen honoring their own.

Also see . . . The Naval Monument in the Grounds of the Naval School at Annapolis. A picture of the Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument from a May 11, 1861 Harper's Weekly article on the Union's first

Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker </b>(NW, or Shubrick, side) image. Click for full size.

By Kevin W., March 15, 2008

3. Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker (NW, or Shubrick, side)

occupation of an "enemy state" during the Civil War. (Submitted on April 28, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker </b>(SE, or Hynson, side) image. Click for full size.

By Kevin W., March 15, 2008

4. Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker (SE, or Hynson, side)

Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker </b>(NE, or Pillsbury, side) image. Click for full size.

By Kevin W., March 15, 2008

5. Mexican War Midshipmen's Monument Marker (NE, or Pillsbury, side)

Clemson & Hynson image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, June 13, 2013

6. Clemson & Hynson

To passed Midshipmen
H. A. Clemson.
and
J. R. Hynson.
lost with the U. S. Brig Somers
off Vera Cruz
Dec. 8th, 1846
This monument is Erected
by
passed and other Midshipmen
of the U.S. Navy As as tribute of respect
1848

Pillsbury & Shubrick image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, June 13, 2013

7. Pillsbury & Shubrick

To Midshipmen
J. W. Pillsbury.
and
T. B. Shubrick.
the former drowned off Vera Cruz
July 27th, 1846
the latter killed at the Naval Battery
near Vera Cruz
March 25th, 1847
while in the discharge of their duties.
This monument is Erected
by
passed and other Midshipmen
As a tribute of respect
1848

Fouled Anchor image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, June 13, 2013

8. Fouled Anchor

John Stephenson Maker Philadelphia image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, June 13, 2013

9. John Stephenson Maker Philadelphia

The Mexican War image. Click for full size.

By Allen C. Browne, June 15, 2013

10. The Mexican War

With the announcement of war with Mexico in May 1846, Superintendent Franklin Buchanan and 56 midshipmen volunteered for service. Buchanan's request, like that of most of the midshipmen, was turned down by the Secretary of the Navy. In the course of the war, ninety alumni would see service; one alumnus would die of disease. Four midshipmen would be killed in the line of duty. Their colleagues at the Naval Academy took up a collection to erect a monument, the first at the Academy, in their honor.Display in the USNA Museum Preble Hall

Loss of USS Somers, 8 December 1846 image. Click for full size.

By The Illustrated London News

11. Loss of USS Somers, 8 December 1846

Line engraving from "The Illustrated London News", 23 January 1847, entitled "Wreck of the American Brig 'Somers'.", depicting Somers on her beam ends after she capsized off Vera Cruz, Mexico, while chasing a blockade runner.U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph, Photo #: NH 82556

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,247 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on June 27, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 28, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on June 27, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.