This Day in Navy History

1845 - U.S. Naval Academy established at Annapolis, MD on former site of Fort Severn.
1895 - Commissioning of Texas, the first American steel-hulled battleship. Texas served off Cuba during the Spanish-American War and took part in the naval battle of Santiago. Under the name of San Marcos, she was sunk in weapon effects tests in Chesapeake Bay in 1911. Her hulk continued in use as a gunnery target through World War II.
1908 - First Navy post offices established in Navy ships
1944 - Operation Dragoon, Allied invasion of Southern France
1953 - First naval officer appointed Chairman, Joints Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William Radford. He served from 15 August 1953 until 15 August 1957.
1958 - USS Lexington (CVA-16) arrives in vicinity of Taiwan

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.