THE INCORPORATORS 121 



Association for the Advancement of Science in 1850, and was 

 twice elected President. 



Dr. Caswell was an eminent speaker, a convincing writer, 

 and a good citizen, taking an active part in all the interests of 

 his city, his state and his country. He published a number of 

 scientific papers, besides essays, biographical sketches, and 

 sermons. His death occurred on January 8, 1877, at Providence, 

 Rhode Island. 



(From Joseph Lovering, in Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy 

 of Sciences, vol. 6, 1909, pp. 363-372.) 



WILLIAM CHAUVENET 

 Born, May 24, 1820; died, December 13, 1870 



William Chauvenet's father, William Marc Chauvenet was 

 born in Narbonne, France, in 1790. Upon the downfall of 

 Napoleon, he came to America and engaged in several unsuc- 

 cessful business ventures, including a brief experiment in farm- 

 ing at Milford, Pennsylvania. Here his son, William, was born 

 in May, 1820. William Chauvenet received his elementary 

 education in the schools of Philadelphia, and at the age of 16 

 entered Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1840. 



From an early age, he had shown a special aptitude for 

 mathematical and mechanical studies, and soon after graduation 

 was engaged to assist Professor Bache in magnetic observations 

 at Girard College. Not long afterwards he was appointed a 

 professor of mathematics in the Navy, and upon the death of 

 Professor David McClure in 1842, was placed in charge of 

 the naval schools, which were then located in the Naval Asylum 

 in Philadelphia, but in 1845 were removed to Annapolis. The 

 old plan of instructing midshipmen when at sea had proved 

 unsatisfactory, and an eight months' course at the naval schools 

 was substituted. This in turn seemed far from adequate, and 

 Professor Chauvenet elaborated a plan for a regularly organized 

 institution for the training of naval officers, and urged it upon 

 the consideration of several successive secretaries of the Navy. 

 It was not until 1851, however, that a regular four years' course 



