James B. Eads, Nathaniel Holmes, Moses L. Linton, William M. 
McPheeters, Moses M. Fallen, Simon Pollak, Charles A. Pope, Hiram 
A. Prout, Benjamin F. Shumard, Charles W. Stevens, William H. 
Tingley, John H. Watters and Adolphus Wislizenus. 
A constitution and by-laws having been adopted, steps were 
promptly taken for securing a charter or act of incorporation from 
the legislature, which was granted on the 17th of January, 1857. 
It is interesting to note that, among other things, this charter pro- 
vides that under the name of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 
the incorporators and their associates and successors shall have per- 
petual succession, may acquire real, personal or mixed property for 
the advancement of science and the estabHshment in St. Louis of a 
museum and library for the study of its various branches; that they 
may have a common seal, and may make and alter such constitution 
and by-laws as may be requisite for their government. Exemption 
rrom taxation is provided for all property owned or held by the 
academy so long as it is held and used in good faith for the desig- 
nated objects. This latter provision is still considered one of the most 
valuable assets of the Academy at the present time. 
Dr. George Engelmann was elected the first president of the 
newly organized Academy. The other members of the first Council 
^ere as follows: Dr. Hiram A. Prout, 1st Vice President; Nathaniel 
Holmes, 2nd Vice President; Dr. Wm. H. Tingley, Secretary; James 
E^ds, Treasurer; Dr. M. M. Pallen, Dr. Wislizenus, Dr. Shumard 
^nd G. W. Stevens, Curators. 
DR. GEORGE ENGELMANN 
f •; <^eorge Engelmann, who undoubtedly was the prime instigator 
^^ ^he promotion of an Academy of Science, as well as a Botanical 
arden in St. Louis, was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, 
.1 , ^"^ 2' 1809. He attended Heidelberg University for a time 
wh 
^ ere he met Louis Agassiz and other young budding naturalists, 
hi^ M n ^^"^^^^^ to the University of Wurzberg where he obtained 
for •" ^^^""^^ ^" 18^1- 1° 1832 he sailed for America and lived 
1835%*^^ ^ith an uncle near Belleville, Illinois. In the fall of 
tice f ^^^™^"n settled down in St. Louis and commenced his prac- 
in c '"^dicine. During this period he occupied his leisure hours 
scientific researches. 
■m 
inve r^'^^ ^"gelmann began a remarkable series of meteorological 
g^stigations and records were kept up continuously for nearly 
years. As most of these records were made before the U. S. 
fifty 
7 
