Bill the Goat

Bill the Goat is the mascot of the United States Naval Academy. The mascot is a live goat and is also represented by a costumed midshipman. The first Bill the Goat appeared in 1890. Currently, Bill XXXVI reigns as the 39th mascot and is the 36th goat to be named Bill. His backup is Bill XXXVII.

There are two sculptures of the mascot, both named Navy Bill, on the Academy’s campus and associated grounds. The original bronze statue was a gift of the Academy class of 1915. Following a lengthy refurbishment, Navy Bill is located near the Academy’s Gate 1. It was created by sculptor Clemente Spampinato in 1956 and dedicated in 1957.

The other Navy Bill is in the north end of Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Both the refurbishment and the replica were 2015 gifts from the class of 1965.

For centuries, ships sailed with livestock in order to provide sailors with fresh food. Ships in the British and early American navies often carried goats, to eat the garbage and other undesirable food and to return milk and butter. The first usage of "billy goat" for a male goat occurs in the 19th century replacing the older term "he-goat." The first creature, animal or otherwise, to circle the earth twice was a (female) goat that traveled first with Wallis (1767) and then with Captain Cook (1768). After the Cook trip she was allowed to retire.

There is a legend that a Navy ship once sailed with a pet goat, and that the goat died during the cruise. The officers preserved the skin to have it mounted when they returned to port. Two young ensigns were entrusted with the skin. On their way to the taxidermist, they stopped by the United States Naval Academy to watch a football game. At halftime, for reasons the legend does not specify, one ensign decided to dress up in the goat skin. The crowd appreciated the effort, and Navy won the game.^{[citation needed]}

In 1893, a live goat named El Cid made his debut as a mascot at the fourth Army–Navy Game. El Cid was a gift to the Brigade of Midshipmen from officers of the USS New York. With the goat, Navy gained a 6–3 win over Army that year, so he was adopted as part of the team.

In the early 1900s, the beloved mascot was finally given a name. On the return trip to the Naval Academy after the Midshipmen triumphed over West Point, the goat was led on a victory lap through the train and did not leave the midshipmen until they reached Baltimore.

It was then that the goat was given the name "Bill", which was the name of a pet goat kept by Commander Colby M. Chester, Commandant of Midshipmen, from 1891 to 1894.