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ESSAY CONTEST BACKGROUND & RULES
The General Prize Essay contest is perhaps the oldest continuously conducted writing contest in the entire United States. The Institute began work on the Contest in 1878 under the leadership of the most recognized and celebrated Naval Strategist in United States history, Alfred Thayer Mahan, then the Chairman of the Naval Institute.
Lieutenant Commander Allan D. Brown first proposed the idea for an essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute for "a paper which shall be deemed the best" on 9 May 1878 at the organization's meeting in Annapolis. The first contest was in 1879. The name of the contest was changed in 1985 to the Arleigh Burke Essay Contest in honor of the World War II hero, former Chief of Naval Operations, and President of the Naval Institute. The name reverted to the General Prize in 2008. Today, the prizes honor the first, second, and third best articles published in Proceedings over the previous year, from October through September of the succeeding year.
Essay Contests - 1880 to 1889
| 1888 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Winner | Commander W.W. Reisinger, USN | Torpedoes |
| 1887 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Winner | Lieutenant C.T. Hutchins, USN | The Naval Brigade: Its Organization, Equipment and Tactics |
| 1886 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Essay | Lieutenant Carlos G. Calkins, USN | What Changes in Organization and Drill Are Necessary to Sail and Fight Effectively Our Warships of Latest Type? |
| Honorable Mention | Ensign W.L. Rodgers, USN | The Result of All Naval Administration and Efforts Finds Its Expression in Good Organization and Thorough Drill on Board of Suitable Ships |
| 1885 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Essay | Commander N.H. Farquhar, USN | Inducements for Retaining Trained Seamen in the Navy, and Best Systems of Rewards for Long and Faithful Service |
| 1884 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Winner | Ensign W.I. Chambers, USN | The Reconstruction and Increase of the Navy |
| 1883 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Winner | Lieutenant Carlos G. Calkins, USN | How May the Sphere of Usefulness of Naval Officers Be Extended in Time of Peace with Advantage to the Country and Naval Service |
| First Honorable Mention | Commander N.H. Farquhar, USN | How May the Sphere of Usefulness of Naval Officers Be Extended in Time of Peace with Advantage to the Country and Naval Service |
| Second Honorable Mention | Captain A.P. Cooke, USN | How May the Sphere of Usefulness of Naval Officers Be Extended in Time of Peace with Advantage to the Country and Naval Service |
| 1882 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Essay | Lieutenant J.D.J. Kelly, USN | Our Merchant Marine: The Causes of Its Decline and the Means to be Taken for Its Revival |
| Honorable Mention | Master Carlos G. Calkins, USN | Our Merchant Marine: The Causes of Its Decline and the Means to be Taken for Its Revival |
| Honorable Mention | Lieutenant Commander F.E. Chadwick, USN | Our Merchant Marine: The Causes of Its Decline and the Means to be Taken for Its Revival |
| Honorable Mention | Lieutenant R. Wainwright, USN | Our Merchant Marine: The Causes of Its Decline and the Means to be Taken for Its Revival |
| 1881 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Essay | Lieutenant E.W. Very, USN | The Type of (I) Armored Vessel, (II) Cruiser Best Suited to the Present Needs of the United States |
| Honorable Mention | Lieutenant Seaton Schroeder, USN | The Type of (I) Armored Vessel, (II) Cruiser Best Suited to the Present Needs of the United States |
| 1880 General Prize Essay Contest Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Winner | Lieutenant Charles Belknap, USN | The Naval Policy of the United States |
