THE INCORPORATORS 177 
scientific lecturers of his time. He and his brothers Henry and 
Robert performed most important work for American geology 
by presenting the results of their observations in a series of 
papers of enduring importance. The wave theory of mountain 
chains, which was the result of extended study of the Appa- 
lachian chain in Pennsylvania and Virginia, excited great interest 
at the time of its presentation and was confirmed by later obser- 
vations. 
Removing to Boston in 1853, Professor Rogers was associated 
with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the 
Boston Society of Natural History. At this time, his work was 
largely in physics. The variations of ozone in the atmosphere, 
improvements of the Ruhmkorff coil, some phenomena of sight 
and the properties of sonorous flames were among the subjects 
he investigated. He was appointed by Governor Andrew 
inspector of gas and gas-meters for the State of Massachusetts, 
and made a visit to Europe, in 1864, to study the latest methods. 
At this time he delivered at Bath a paper before the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science. The establishment 
of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of which Professor 
Rogers was the first president, was due to his labors which 
continued until his death. Physical inability obliging him to 
desist for a while from active work and finally to resign the 
presidency, though remaining professor emeritus of physics and 
geology, his last act was performed in the interest of the students. 
Rising to present the diplomas to the graduating class he had 
uttered but a few words, when he fell lifeless to the platform. 
Thus on the 30th of May, 1882, was closed a life devoted to the 
search of scientific truths and their presentation in a manner so 
attractive and so convincing as to impress their importance on 
the minds of others. 
Professor Rogers was the third President of the National 
Academy of Sciences and served from 1879 to 1882. 
(From Francis A. WALKER, in Biographical Memoirs of the National 
Academy of Sciences, vol. 3, 1895, pp. 1-13.) 
