II4 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Newport. In 1828 he was appointed Professor of Natural 
Philosophy and Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania 
and soon afterwards joined the then newly-founded Franklin 
Institute where he enjoyed association with the principal 
engineers and artisans of Philadelphia. He engaged in original 
researches and took a prominent part in the activities of the 
Institute, and after a few years became the director of its scien- 
tific investigations. One of his most important labors at that 
time was an inquiry into the causes of the bursting of steam 
boilers. It soon came to the attention of the Government which 
made an appropriation for the expenses involved. ‘“ The con- 
clusions arrived at were embodied in a series of propositions, 
which, after a lapse of more than thirty years, have not been 
superseded by any others of more practical value.” (Henry.) At 
this time Bache was also a member of the American Philosoph- 
ical Society and in association with Espy, Hare, Frazer and 
others spent much time and thought in investigations relating 
to meteorology and terrestrial magnetism. To the latter subject 
he continued to make contributions throughout his life. 
In 1836 Professor Bache was prevailed upon to undertake 
the organization of Girard College for Orphans, then recently 
established in Philadelphia. He spent two years in Europe in 
its behalf, upon the study of the educational systems of France, 
Prussia, Austria and other countries, and his report, which was 
published in 1839, did “ more, perhaps, to improve the theory 
and art of education in this country than any other work ever 
published.” 
A delay having occurred in the opening of Girard College, 
Bache undertook the reorganization of the public schools of 
Philadelphia and caused them to be looked upon as a model 
for the entire system of the United States. 
In 1842, finding that the affairs of Girard College remained 
stationary, he returned to his professorship in the University of 
Pennsylvania, but the following year, on the death of Hassler, 
he was appointed Superintendent of the Coast Survey, for which 
station his qualities and his training seemed especially to fit 
