1879.
Subject:—“ Naval Education—I. Officers. II. Men.”
Judges of Award:—Charles W. Eliot, President of Harvard University; Daniel Ammen, Rear-Admiral, U. S. N. ; Wm. H. Shock, Engineer-in-chief, U. S. N.
Winner of the Prize:—Lieutenant-Commander Allan D. Brown, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Qui non proficit.”
First Honorable Mention:—Lieutenant-Commander Caspar F. Goodrich, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Esse quam videri.”
Second Honorable Mention:—Commander Alfred T. Mahan, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Essayons.”
Number of Essays presented for competition, ten.
1880.
Subject:—“The Naval Policy of the Untied States.”
Judges of Award:—Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, Secretary of State; Hon. R. W. Thompson, Secretary of the Navy; Hon. J. K. McPherson, U. S. Senator.
Winner of the Prize:—Lieutenant Charles Belknap, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Sat cito, si sat bene.”
Number of Essays presented for competition, eight.
1881.
Subject:—“The Type of (I) Armored Vessel, (II) Cruiser, Best Suited to the Present Needs of the United States.”
Judges of Award:—Commodore W. N. Jeffers, U. S. N.; Chief Engineer J. W. King, U. S. N.; Chief Constructor John Lenthall, U. S. N.
Winner of the Prize by decision of two of the Judges:—Lieutenant Edward W. Very, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Aut Cresar, aut nullus.”
Recommended for the Prize by one of the Judges: — Lieutenant Seaton Schroeder, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“In via virtute via nulla.”
Number of Essays presented for competition, four.
1882.
Subject:—“Our Merchant Marine; the Causes of its Decline and the Means to be taken for its Revival.”
Judges of Award:—Hon. Hamilton Fish, Ex-Secretary of State; John D. Jones, President Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, New York ; A. A. Lowe, Ex-President New York Chamber of Commerce.
Winner of the Prize:—Lieutenant James D. J. Kelley, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—‘‘Nil clarius aquis.”
First Honorable Mention:—Master Carlos G. Calkins, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“ Mais il faut cultiver notre jardin.”
Second Honorable Mention:—Lieutenant-Commander F. E. Chadwick, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—"Spero meliora.”
Third Honorable Mention:—Lieutenant Richard Wainwright, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Causa latet: vis est notissima.”
Essay printed by request of John D. Jones, Esq. Ensign \V. G. David,U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Tempori parendum.”
Number of Essays presented for competition, eleven.
1883.
Subject:—“How may the Sphere of Usefulness of Naval Officers be Extended in Time of Peace with Advantage to the Country and the Naval Service?”
Judges of Award:—Hon. Alexander H. Rice; Judge Josiah G. Abbott; Rear-Admiral George H. Preble, U. S. N.
Winner of the Prize:—Lieutenant Carlos G. Calkins, U. S. N. Motto of Essay :—“Pour encourager les autres.”
First Honorable Mention :—Commander N. H. Farquhar, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Semper paratus.”
Second Honorable Mention:—Captain A. P. Cooke, U. S. N. Motto of Essay:—“Cuilibet in arte su& credendum est.”
Number of Essays presented for competition, four.
1884.
Subject:—“The Best Method for the Reconstruction and Increase of the Navy.”
Judges of Award:—Rear-Admiral C. R. P. Rodgers, U. S. N.; D. C. Gilman, LL. D., President of the Johns Hopkins University ; Hon. J. R. Hawley, U. S. Senator.
Number of Essays presented for competition, two.