Did you know about this guy?

When I sent out the Dartmouth Final Quiz to friends, I noticed it had been administered at the Thayer Dining Hall. Thayer is an uncommon name, and besides a high school friend, the only other time I can recall the name is that it is the award Douglas MacArthur received when he gave his Duty, Honor, Country speech, one of the 20th century's greatest orations. A Googlesearch shows the connection. Had you heard of Sylvanus Thayer before?

I love the opening of the speech:

As I was leaving the hotel this morning, a doorman asked me, "Where are you bound for, General?" And when I replied, "West Point," he remarked, "Beautiful place. Have you ever been there before?"