742 . THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



original investigations on electricity and magnetism, the first regular 

 series on Natural Philosophy which had been prosecuted in this coun- 

 try since the days of Franklin. These researches made him favorably 

 known not only in this country, but in Europe, and led to his call in 

 1832 to the chair of Natural Philosophy in the College of New Jersey 

 at Princeton. 



In the first year of his course in this institution, during the absence 

 of the Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Torrey, in Europe, he gave lectures 

 in Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Geology, Astronomy, 

 and Architecture. This work interrupted his original investigations, 

 but he soon commenced anew where he had left off at Albany, and 

 devoted himself to a work of research, until he was called to his pres- 

 ent position in Washington. In 1835 he was granted by the trustees 

 of the college a year's absence in Europe, nine months of which he 

 spent principally in Paris, London, and Edinburgh, in intercourse with 

 the savants of these cities, and procuring more efficient apparatus to 

 prosecute his investigations. 



Meantime Mr. John Smithson, of England had left a large sum of 

 money to the Government of the United States, to be devoted " to the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." An institution was 

 projected to carry out this purpose, and in 1846 Prof. Henry was 

 requested by some of the members of the Board of Regents to give his 

 views as to the best methods of realizing the intentions of its founder. 

 In compliance with this request he gave an exposition of the will, and 

 of the method by which it might most efficiently be realized. On ac- 

 count of this exposition and his scientific reputation, he was called to 

 the office of Secretary or Director of the establishment. Unfortunate- 

 ly, Congress had attempted to organize the institution without a due 

 appreciation of the terms of the will. This gave rise to difficulties 

 and expenditures on local objects, particularly to the commencement 

 of a very expensive building, which have much retarded the full reali- 

 zation of what might have been produced by the plan originally 

 proposed by Prof. Henry. 



At the time of the organization of the Light-House Board of the 

 United States, Prof. Henry was appointed by President Fillmore one 

 of its members, and he still continues in the position. During the 

 war he was appointed one of a commission, together with Prof. Bache 

 and Admiral Davis, to examine and report upon various inventions, 

 intended to facilitate the operations against the enemy, and to im- 

 prove the art of navigation. On the death of Prof. Bache, he was 

 elected President of the National Academy of Sciences, established by 

 an 'act of Congress in 1863, to advance science, and to report upon 

 such questions of a scientific character as might be connected with the 

 operations of the Government. He is a member of various societies 

 in this country and abroad, and has several times received the degree 

 of LL. D., the last time from Cambridge, Massachusetts. 



