operating again in Norwich by 1829. Curriculum The curriculum Partridge advanced incorporated the study of liberal arts, agriculture, modern languages, and engineering in addition to the sciences and various military subjects. Field exercises and drills, for which Partridge borrowed cannon and muskets from the federal and state governments, supplemented classroom instruction and added an element of realism to the college's program of well-rounded military education. One of America's first exercise enthusiasts, Partridge became a strong proponent of physical education as an essential part of school curriculum. As part of that program, he often led his classes on hiking expeditions in the many local mountains of New England. On one climb of Vermont's Green Mountains in 1822, Partridge led 27 pack-laden cadets on a 150-mile hike from Norwich to Manchester in just four days. Other colleges Awarded an honorary master's degree from Dartmouth in 1812, Partridge received the same honor from the University of Vermont in 1821, but he declined that institution's offer the same year to become its president. Partridge founded 17 military institutions during his quest to reform the fledgling United States military, including: The American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy at Middletown, Connecticut (1824-1831), the Virginia Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at Portsmouth (1839–1846), Pennsylvania Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy at Bristol (1842–1845), Pennsylvania Military Institute at Harrisburg (1845–1848), Wilmington Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at Wilmington (1846–1848), the Scientific and Military Collegiate Institute at Reading, Pennsylvania (1850–1854), Gymnasium and Military Institute at Pembroke, New Hampshire (1850–1853) the National Scientific and Military Academy at Brandywine Springs, Delaware (1853). When John Thomas Lewis Preston worked to influence public opinion in favor of creating the Virginia Military Institute in the 1830s, Partridge assisted by providing open letters of support to members of the Virginia General Assembly and letters to the editors of Virginia newspapers. Efforts to revitalize militia Interested in revitalizing and reforming the state militias, which had become increasingly dormant during the long period of peace following the War of 1812, Partridge and Norwich University faculty members Truman B. Ransom and Alonzo Jackman, both of whom served in the militia, worked with Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, also a militia officer, and Frederic Williams Hopkins of the Vermont militia on efforts to increase recruiting and improve training and readiness. Personal life An avid hiker, Partridge is described as "a noted pedestrian" in A History of Norwich. He had reportedly