CHAPTER I 
THE FOUNDING OF THE ACADEMY 
, NHE National Academy of Sciences owes its origin as 
an organization, in an indirect manner, to the need 
of the Government for technical scientific advice in con- 
nection with the conduct of the Civil War. In February, 1863, 
the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, appointed a “ Per- 
manent Commission,” consisting of Joseph Henry, Secretary of 
the Smithsonian Institution, Alexander Dallas Bache, Superin- 
tendent of the Coast Survey, and Charles H. Davis, Chief of the 
Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, to report on various 
“matters of science and art,” but chiefly of a practical import and 
relating to the physical sciences. These experts considered 
numerous subjects, and gave their opinion regarding them. 
The letter of appointment, which is preserved in the archives 
of the Navy Department, is as follows: 
“ Navy DEPARTMENT, 
“February 11, 1863. 
“Sir: The Department proposes to organize upon the following programme 
a permanent commission to which all subjects of a scientific character on which 
the Government may require information may be referred. 
“Propositions relative to a permanent scientific commission: 
“1st. There shall be constituted a permanent commission consisting of, for the 
present, Commodore Davis, Professor Henry, and Professor Bache, to which shall 
be referred questions of science and art upon which the Department may require 
information. 
“2d. This commission shall have authority to call in associates to aid in their 
investigations and inquiries. 
“3d. The members and associates of the Commission shall receive no compen- 
sation for their services. 
“You are directed to act as a member of the Commission in conjunction with 
Professor Henry and Professor Bache. 
