The national Republican., 1867-02-19
Death Of Prof. R,ehe.

We regret to learn OF the demise in New.
port, r. l., OF ALEXANDER DALLAS BAcBE,
LII. D., great grandson Of DR.. BKSJA,ns
FRANKLIN, the renowned philosopher, states
man, and revolutionary patriot His grand
father, RrcHARD BAcHx, born in England,
emigrated 70 the United States, and married
the daughter Of DR.. FRANKLIN. He succeeded
the Doctor as Postmaster General Of the
United States in l776, and died in 1911, aged
IS. His son, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BAcHE,
was the editor Of the celebrated Aurora, an
opposition paper, during the administrations
OF WASHINGTON and ADAMS. ALEXANDER
DALLAS BAcuE, and his brother, FRANKLIN
BAcHE, hardly less eminent as a man Of sci
enee, have in a striking manner illustrated
the fame Of this remarkable family.
The suhjec; Of the present memoir was
born in Philadelphia, July ls, 1906, and was
therefore no, quite 90 years Of age at the
time 81 his last illness. Educated at the
United States military academy at West
Point, he graduated with the highest honors,
and became lieutenant Of engineers OF fortif.
cation n ls2S, in which capacity he served
two years reSgning his commission in the
year 1927, to accept the position Of Professor
Of Mathematics in the University Of Penn,
sylvania Here he remained until lS4l,
when be was chosen by the Philadelphia
Board Of Controllers Of the Public Schools
Principal of the Central High School.
After a service Of not quite two years hC
resigned his post and returned to the mort
congenial professorship Of natural philosophy
and chemistry in the University, in 1912, and
remained there about a year, resigning in
the year 1s43 to fll the post Of president oI
Girard College, in which capacity he had
previously visited Europe to examine the
systems Of instruction there, the results o.
which have been published in large volume
In 1888 he edited On edition Of Brewster
Optics, with notes. In 1s47 he publsbed in
three volumes, svo., Observations at thu
Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory o
Grard College from 1910 to 1s45, with on,
volume Of plates. In 1853 he was appointed
superintendent of the United States Coas
Survey, which post he held until his death
| DAIhE "uS u VI
principal scientific societies Of the world, an,
received the medal Of the British Royal Geo
graphical Society in 1858. He was one o
the founders and most jealous members o
the American Association for the Advance
cent Of Science; also one Of the scientific
faculty Of the Smithsonian Institution q
Washington, and OF the Scientific Boart
under whose auspices the famous Dudley
Astronomical Observatory at Albany, New
York, was built and fitted up. Aside from
the works ABOVE mentioned, his papers will
be found scattered through the Journal o
the Franklin Institute, Proceedings of the
American Association for the Advancement
Of Science. Journal Of the American Philo
sophical Society, American Journal OIL
Science, and Proceedings Of the British As
sociation for the Advancement Of Science
He also wrote the annual report to the Uni
ted States Treasury Department on weight
and measures from 1874 to 1856 inclusive.
Those in this city who were associate
u with him in scientific pursuits or in the circl
l Of friendly acquaintance will deeply mour
u his death while in the zenith Of his scientifi
Z career