New-York tribune., 1874-11-07
ECLOGY ON JOSEPH SAXTON.
By Prot Joseph Henry.

Prof Henry was appointed at the last meet
ing OF the ACADEMY prepare this paper He made 1t
rot only Y r;iDIltc ellogy on the deceased men,
bcr hut Interesting record Of his labors In many
hslds OF science. ani Of the fruits OF his remarkably
fertile iaycn i've genius. Joseph SIxton Of the
original members Of the Academy named IN the
Congressional Act Of Incorporation. He was born
HunuuctOD Ptnna March 90 l779 and died in Wash
ingtOn. ID. c. Oi 2j 1873 His threeQuarters OF cen
tGry OF lie covered the time when the world made
greater progress ia the application Of scence 10 art than
any O:hcr prO. Of equal length in its history. His
early education oay that afforded by common
school In hs youth lie constructed printing press
sad issu,i nreguatiy small newspaper AT Is years
af Ec vr.t to Philadelphia TO seek his
ledge. II. iOdad employment f'st with watch
maker, ana Afterwards with an cngraver HIS hrst IN
ventnn was macahe Tor cutting tno eeth OF wnecis
wAch Is OF great vai 70 III making chronometer wheels
tie became associated with Isaiah LukeDs, noted
constructed au astronomical clock with cOmpen-
,nns penlaa,n %nen is M now in daSed the tower
member of The Franklin Institute. an establishment
which has d'Ir more IOr he advancement of ecOnom
cal and al arts u this county t1an any other
Institution. Afterwards he went To London. where he
called the Aiconite Gallery of Practical Science,
founded IN n3i for the encouragement of inventors
steel magnet which sustained weight OF US pounds
He also made magnetic needle several feet III length
with mirror on lis end, which exhibited for the first
time by tie mOvemen. O a rejected beam OF Light the
daily and hourly variations OF the magnetic force OF
OF experiments on the c0mpressbility OF water and OF
the Tcsi,tlucc Of aqueous animals sustain pressure
besides "A series of steam ana carOOulc acid
p-,itcil5 agents. L. England he became acquainted
Wit dciloucd, Brunei Hnltwel HAWKINS, aud Others.
He nt iuced 10 the meetings Of The Royal IDsttu
uOu. and nct the WOrlG-relowned Michael Faraday.
III was during this time that lie made his great sclcn-
the invention OF tAg m@getO-elecJrIc machine he Also
invented the locomotive different u pulley apparatus
for measuring the velocity OF vessels and metal rung
machine, cuntrIyauce for tracing lines metal or
glass at muu.c distance from each other Nj. SaXtOn
retained IN tins city in 1881 and during hs connection
with the Uusci states Mint constructed the large stand
ard balances s used IN the annual inspection Of the
assays and vertcatOn of the standard weights toT
all tho Government as0ay aud coming offices Of the
United States
On the death OF Mr. Hasser, superintendent OF the
Coast Survey, November ls3 Prof Ale Dallas
thus rendered vacant. Ine office included also the
perntcnGencc OF he welghs ana measures OF the Gov
ernmcnt, amt iiDuo tat' ~ after his appointment he
rendered TO his fIiond, Mr. SaXtOn the charge Of the
construction Of Tie standard balances and weights
measures 10 be used ~ each OF States for lnsurng
uniformity OF measures III all parts OF tue country Mr..
SaXUu accepted the POSITION aud Immediately removed
TO Washington, where he was destined To spend the
labOrs OF his position hut extended them TO tnc
structOn of fcren portions OF the complex apparatus
employ ed III the varied ana mutf0rm operations OL tie
Coast Survey. III this connection be Invented
tomato instrument Tor recording the hight OF the tides
He also applied bis rejecting pyrometer the cODstruc
tiOu of >Iriug rods which would retain their
varying Length while subjected to different tempera-
lures, and used bis gea. tacnts in ot9er directions.
Mr.. SaXt0ns inventive powers were exercised rather
for the pleasure their exercise gave bin than for any
gain himself others rcapcd the prOflt from OF
bis vain: bic Inventions lie rarely sought 20 bring
into EiS cCVcts and discoveries. Among "a great
proper credit OR any pecuDary return was that Of
taIlc carriages.