148 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
about sixteen years old a copy of Gregory’s “ Lectures on Ex- 
perimental Philosophy, Astronomy and Chemistry, intended 
chiefly for the Use of Young Persons” fell into his hands and, 
“although by no means a profound work,” made so strong an 
impression on him that he at once resolved to devote himself 
to the pursuit of knowledge. He attended a night school, and 
afterwards the Albany Academy, and also engaged in the study 
of medicine. Having occupied himself for a little time as a 
private tutor and a surveyor, at the age of twenty-six he became 
Professor of Mathematics in the Albany Academy. 
Here in 1827 he began that most important series of investi- 
gations which in a few years placed him at the head of Ameri- 
can men of science. In 1832 he was elected Professor of Natural 
Philosophy at Princeton University, then the College of New 
Jersey, and during the fourteen years in which he occupied this 
position, all his spare time was spent in original research in 
electro-magnetism, the results of which were published at 
frequent intervals. Regarding these investigations the Academy 
registered its opinion in 1876 in the following terms: 
“ Resolved, That in response to the letter of the British Minister, Sir Edward 
Thornton, asking the Academy for a suggestion as to the names and services of 
persons considered eligible to receive the Albert Medal of the Society of Arts, to 
reward ‘distinguished merit in promoting arts, manufacture, or commerce,’ the 
Academy suggest the name of Professor Joseph Henry as most worthy of all 
living Americans to receive that recognition. ‘They base this suggestion upon his 
distinguished merit in the following respects, viz.: 
“1, As being the first to develop the power of the electro-magnet as actuated 
by an intensity or a quantity battery. 
“9. As the first to apply the electro-magnet in the invention of an electro- 
magnetic telegraph. 
“3. As the first to invent a machine to be moved by electro-magnetism. 
“4. For the application of the electro-telegraph to forecasting the weather. 
“5. For the plan of the Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion 
of knowledge among men, and the successful development of this plan during an 
administration of more than twenty-five years as Scientific Director of this 
Establishment. 
“6, For the improvement in fog-signals in connection with the United States 
Light House Board, and discoveries in sound.” ® 
“Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 1, p. 114, April, 1876. 
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