The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-10
ALEXANDER DALLAS BACHE.

A Biographical Sketch Read Before the
Franklin Institute by Professor Fairman
At the regular monthly meeting of the Frank
lin Institute held March IL, Professor Fairman
Rogers read carefully-prepared and elaborate
Biographical sketch of the late Professor Alex
ander Dallas Bache, the world-celebrated Super
intendent of the United States Coast Survey.
The long and brilliant connection of Professor
Baehe with the scientific interests of this coun-
try and the circumstance of his being, in the
true sense of the term, Philadelphian, prompt
ms to lay the entire sketch before our readers,
which we are enabled to do by the receipt of an
advance proof copy of the transactions of the
Franklin Institute" through the kindness of
Professor Henry Morton, the Secretary. Profes-
cor Rogers sketch reads as follows:-
Alexander Dallas Bache, the subject of our
memoir was born in Philadelphia, on the 10Th
of July, 1906. His father, Richard Bache, was
a son of Richard Bache, Postmaster-General of
the United States, and Sarah, only daughter of
Benjamin Franklin. His mother, Sophia Dallas,
was the daughter of Alexander james Dallas,
Secretary of the Treasury, and the sister of
George NJ. Dallas, Vice-President of the United
States and Minister to London.
Mr.. Bache was thus connected with families
alike distinguished for scientific and intellectual
attanments and social position in his native city.
In 1921 he entered the United States Military
Academy at West Point, and graduated mt the
head of an uncommonly good class in 1926, re-
naming for about year after his graduation rs
assistant instructor in engineering. He was
then assigned to engineer duty at Fort Adams,
Newport, Il. l., where he remained two years,
with General, then Colonel Totten, and while
there became engaged to Miss Fowler, to whom
he was married in 1S2S-a woman adorned with
those good qualities which enabled her to be his
firmest friend and most able adviser throughout
his life. In 1928 Mr.. Bache was appointed Pro-
fessor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in
the University of Pennsylvania, at the age of %.
and it is from that time that his scientific
commences. In 1886 he was appointed the first
President of Girard College and made his
trip through Europe in the interests of that in
sttution. Upon his return finding that much
time must yet telapse before the College buildings
could be finished, he offered his services to the
city to reorganize its High School, and at the
end of year, the College not yet being in a con-
ditiOn to require his attention, he resigned his
salary, but retained the office of President hold
ing himself ready for duty when the building
should be in readiness and became Principal of
the High School and Superintendent of Public
Schools for which he received n salary from the
city. He again took his old chair in the Uni
Yersity in 1912. and in 1S43 he was appointed
Superintendent of the United States Coast Sur
Vey, which position he held until his death,
which occurred on the 18th of February. 1867.
gSuch is a brief record of one of the most useful
and brilliant lives of the past half century. His
devotion to science, in the highest acceptaton
of the term knew no bounds. His enthusiasm
not only carried him forward, but it commune
Gated itself to all who came in contact with him.
One reason that he did so much work, was that
he was hundred-handed, The moment that he
made the acquaintance of new man he saw
what he was good for, what he could do, and by
some mysterious power, he set him to work
When he proposed line of research, or mat
ter to be worked up. it always seemed to him to
whom he proposed it, that here was just the op-
portunity for which he had been waiting, and he
attacked it with vigor and determination. Thus
the great chief always had many hands and
,N.11,, L r ~.
which were at the time interesting him, and
these outside labors met with so much conside-
ration, and were so handsomely acknowledged,
that no one hesitated to repeat them when
called upon second time. No scientific man
could render a greater service 20 science than
by encouraging its younger vOtares to take up
and to persevere in those investigations for
which nature may have fitted them: and in this
Mr.. Bache eminently successful. He
showed this conspicuously when, even as a
young man, he was interested in the operations
of this Institute and it is in his labors rs one of
our old members that we are especially inte-
rested.
Very shortly after his appointment to the Uni
Versity, Mr.. Bache connected himself with the
Franklin Institute. On the 25th of March, 1880,
his name first appears in the records of the So
ciety as chairman of the monthly meeting of
that date, and from that time until his depart
ureEforWashingtOn in 1914. he was prominent
member, serving faithfully on most of the i'm
pOrtant committees. He was in the Board of
Secretary from that time until 1S43 He served
for many years ON the Committees on Meteor
Ology, Inventions, Instruction, Meetings and
Publication, and on the Committees on Patent
Laws and the Manufacturing Establishments of
Pennsylvania The Committee on Inventions
was extended into the Committee of Science
and the Arts in 1884.
He was appointed on the Committee on EX-
plosions of Steam Boilers and Strength of Mate
rials in June, 1880, and labOred faithfully as II
member of both its subcommittee. taking Il
largeApart in the preparation OF the report which
is still considered one of the classical authori-
ties on the subject. He also took a large share
in the labors of the Committee on Experiments
on Water Power. As member of the Commit
tee on Weights and Measures. in 1888, he took a
large share in the preparation OF the valuable
report on that subject. In October of 1912 he
delivered the address at the close of the annual
exhibition. During all this time he contributed
many papers to the Journal and TO the Philoso
phical Society of which he was an active mem.
ber. He edited an American edition of Brew,
ster's Optics and conducted large number Of
Investigations in magnetics, metcOrOlogy, anC
physical science generally. This was probably
the time of the greatest activity of the institute
and Mr.. Bache had associated with him as
fellow-workers and as staunch friends for al
after life, S. V. Merrick, Frederick Fraley, DR.
Hare, NJ w. Baldwin, T. L. Walter, Sears c
Walker j. c. Cresson, j. F. Frazer, men whosC
names we now honor among the brghtes
lights of the society.
la 1S43, Mr.. Bache having received the ap
pointment of Superintendent of the United
States Coast Survey left Philadelphia, and, o
course, his active duties in the institute, to talk
up his residence in Washington; but he alway
considered this city ms his home and looked for
ward to returning TO it at some future period
when his labors for the Government should b
ended; and one of his greatest pleasures was I
foT,lI yiatae fla9 in