William Chauvenet William Chauvenet (1820-1870) was one of the finest mathematical minds produced in the United States prior to the Civil War. He was instrumental in the founding of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD.  Later he came to Washington University as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy (1859-1869) and served as the second Chancellor of Washington University (1862-1869).As Chancellor, Chauvenet addressed the graduating class at the University's first commencement ceremony, held on June 20, 1862.  (Until approximately 1880, it was also that tradition that every graduating class member should also give an address, usually in Latin or Greek.) On the wall of the arcade in front of Ridgely Hall is a replica of a plaque commemorating his time at Annapolis, and a plaque honoring his service to Washington University. The Mathematics Department has two visiting lectureships named after William Chauvenet. To see who holds these positions now, see the Department Faculty List in the Math Majors/Minors Handbook. Chauvenet and the U.S. Navy   This site highlights Chauvenet's career with the US Naval Academy (and the ship named after him). Winners of the Mathematical Association of America's William Chauvenet Prize   The Chauvenet Prize, consisting of a prize of $1,000 and a certificate is awarded at the Annual Meeting of the Association to the author of an outstanding expository article on a mathematical topic by a member of the Association. First awarded in 1925, the Prize is named for William Chauvenet.  It was established through a gift in 1925 from J.L. Coolidge, then MAA President.  Winners of the Chauvenet Prize are among the most distinguished of mathematical expositors. The winners include two current members of the W.U. Math Department (Professors Guido Weiss and Steve Krantz), as well as a some former members: Ken Gross (now of the University of Vermont), Carolyn Gordon and David Webb (both of Dartmouth College) WU Link about William Chauvenet