Thayer, Sylvanus, << sihl VAY nuhs >> (1785-1872), was a United States Army engineer and educator who became known as the father of West Point. From 1817 to 1833, Thayer was superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His long service allowed him to impress his professional standards and ideas of duty, honor, and loyalty on several generations of cadets. He was born on June 9, 1785, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He died on Sept. 7, 1872.
