Simeon Magruder Levy Explained

Simeon Magruder Levy (January 1774 – March 1807), also known as Simon Levy, 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).

Early life

Levy was born in January 1774 in Pennsylvania. His parents were Levy Andrew Levy, a fur trader and land speculator, and his wife Susanna [Simon].^[1] 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. In the 1790 US Census Andrew Levy was a resident of Washington County Maryland^[2] The Levy family moved to Baltimore, Maryland circa 1799.

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. 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.

Later life

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. Levy may have first served as an instructor at West Point, then served as an engineer at Fort James Jackson and Fort Wilkinson Fort Wilkinson, Georgia.

He became ill and resigned his commission on September 30, 1805. He died in March 1807 in Georgia. His place of burial is uncertain.^[3]

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.

See also

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

Notes and References

1. https://books.google.com/books?id=4XBIAAAAYAAJ&dq=Levy+Andrew+Levy+married+Susanna+Simons&pg=PA99 Andress and Papers of Lancaster... Lancaster County Historical Society 1901 Volume 5 p.99
2. "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)
3. 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 have been his burial place.