Peter Smith Michie (March 24, 1839 - February 16, 1901) was an American educator and soldier.
Biography
He was born in Brechin, Scotland, came to the United States in 1843, and was brought up in Cincinnati. He graduated second in the class of 1863 at West Point and entered the engineer corps. During the Civil War, he served in the campaign of 1864 against Richmond, Virginia; was chief engineer of General Benjamin Butler's Army of the James during the construction of the Dutch Gap Canal; and was at the head of all engineering operations of the left column at Hatcher's Run and in the pursuit of General Robert E. Lee's army.
After the war, having attained brevet rank of brigadier in 1865, he was for a year engaged in the government survey of the theatre of the war. From 1867 to 1869 he taught various branches at West Point; was member of a coastal fortification commission which visited Europe in 1870; and for the last thirty years of his life was professor of natural and experimental philosophy at West Point. He was an overseer of the Thayer School of Civil Engineering at Dartmouth College (1871-1901).
Michie died in West Point, New York and was buried at the West Point Cemetery on February 18, 1901.
General Michie was a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. His son, William R. Michie, was an hereditary member of the order.
Dates of rank
Cadet, United States Military Academy - 1 July 1959
First Lieutenant, Engineers - 11 June 1863
Lieutenant Colonel, Asst Inspector General - 23 March to 6 June 1865
Brevet Brigadier General - 1 January 1865
Captain, Engineers - 23 October 1865
Professor, USMA - 14 February 1871
Died - 16 February 1901
Works
Elements of Wave Motion Relating to Sound and Light (1882) The Life and Letters of Emory Upton (1885) Elements of Analytical Mechanics (1886) The Personnel of Sea-Coast Defense (1887) Hydrodynamics (1888) Practical Astronomy (1891) General McClellan (“Great Commanders Series,” New York, 1901)