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. : 



" I. As being the first to develop the power of the electro-magnet as actuated 

 by an intensity or a quantity battery. 



" 2. 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. i, p. 114, April, 1876. 



