National Republican., 1878-05-14
PROFESSOR JOSEPH HENRY.
Death Of the Venerable Scientist.
Arrangements for tho Obsequ'es-An Inter-
csting Biographical sketch-An Emu
msration of His Contributions
to Scientific knowledge.


Smithsonian building were Immediately closed
and drAped In mourning. placard was fastened
upon the doors Of the main entrance with the in.
scripton:
CLOSED on account of the death of the Secretary.
Professor Joseph Henry"
Professor Henry had been III for more than three
months but no fear was entertained until last Sat-
urday. when a sudden change for tho worse was
noticed. Since 1871. at which time he took a trip
TO Europe mainly for the purpose Of iecnperatlng
his falling energies, he had enjoyed unusually
good health considering his advanced age. He
took serious cold while North last fall. In conncc
tion with his duties asa member ofthc Light House
Board, and since that time has been ILL., The pri.
mary cause OF his death was Brghts disease OF the
kidneys, the greet fec Of literary and scientific
men.
Ills physicians were Drs. Lincoln. Woodward
and Tyler with DR.. Weir Mitchell. OF Philadelphia
as consulting physician. Almost M to the hour OF
his death he attended Ia all OF the important duties
Of his Office as secretary Of the smithsonian lnsti
tute lie retained full consciousness up 10 the last
moment. Ills family and physicians aud one or
two intimate friends were present when lie died
lie leaves wife aud three daughter. the
recent meeting Of the Academy Of Science the
Henry" nmd consisting Of slO,ooo, presented by
Few friends was formally transferred to Professor
Henry The fund was sct apart for tho use OF
Professor Henry and his heirs during their life,
and 10 be ultimately devoted IN science.
Professor Henry, having himself GccnmmulNtcl
some property ha, thus been enabled To leave his
family comfortably providcdfo for.
ARRANGEMENTS roR THE FUNERAL.
\ meeting of tllC regents OF the Smith -pnlnn IN.
ititutC held last evening, and II was decided to
have the funeral ceremonies at the New York ay.
cnuG Presbyterian Church next Thursday, at four
O'Clock. General sherman and DR.. Peter Parker
were appointed committee 10 make all necessary
arrangements.
Its probable that Professor Henry's successor
will moi be chosen until the regular annual meet
ing Of the regents which occurs next JaiuEry'
SKETCH or MS LIFE.
Joseph Henry was OF Scotch Presbyterian descent.
Iis grandparents on both sides landed in New York
the day before the battle Of BunkCr' lill. His ma.
tCFnal grandfather, Hugh Alexander, was man nf
remarkable Ingenuity, and settled In Delaware
County, New York, where he erected mill and
prepared all the Hprnrhtns!'cv"n the grinding
stones. with his own hands. During tie progress
at thr var. Ii ,wrvvr, he was driven from hi' mill
Wy the lndiars and became All Rrt.fccr in the con
iiUcniul army. and ailcrwGrl MANUFACTURER Of
ALT at The svrimcs Of SGna; His TatcFnGl grand
faIheI-Willam Icrry, or liunlr'c--As the name
was spelled In Scotland, clird GA iHF.h IN Albany
County. He was man q rrht'nE, Cspevinl!y IN
the line or Presbyterian theology and Scotch his.
tory. He lived 10 the age nf upward ni ninety. nnd
was wont To- give in his late days an account Of the
appearance of Charles stuart Us tie entered Glasgow
ii Ia.
The subject or this sketch was born In Albany.
December u lTy7 but having lost his father nt an
carly he was ndUpied by an uncle; AMI sent 1T
the age of seven yrurs, to live with his grand
mother auL To attend school at Galway In Snr!toga
County. Here he remained until the age Of four
teen the int'cr part OF the time being spent III
store attending school IN the oafcrnoOn. He showed
M aptitude for learning OF for eNceihg III the Or
binary
SPORTS OF BoYHOOD.
This. however, was mainly due to his having ac-
ciluutally and secretly obtained tn the vii
lnge library. where he became 81 fascinated with
works of fiction, perhaps account OF the stolen
access Ia them, that he spent most Of the time i'll
reading. which was devoted by other boys to act ive
sports lie became the story teller Ia his comrades
and m one occasion while on visit to his mother
in Albany, WIS taken to the theatre by relative
and oil HE return amused his young companions
by reproducing with them the two plays which had
formed the evening entertainment.
ON his return 10 Albany after the death Of his
uncle, he was apprcmtced TO his cousin to learn the
trade Of Jcwcler; but inter he had been two years
in this occupation. and before he hal acquired
sufficient skin To- support himself 10y the art his
relative gave up the business and he was set loose
from regular employment and gave himself up
almost entirely I" light reading and the amusement
Oi the theatre. In this course he was suddenly mr.
r,.lri by opening u book which had been LETT upon
the table By one Of the bDardcrs at his mother :
Louise. \ single page of this produced q remark
able change IN hi, life Il gave new direction TO
his thoughts, aud called forth mental ChuraCtCTS-
tics Of which he hnd previously supposed himself
entirely deficient. He resolved at once to devote
his lii, tI the acquisition of knowledge, and immc.
dalcly mmCnCCd Ia take evening lessons from
two OF the professors in the Albany Academy.
lie also became pupil OF the celebrated linmil-
ton who visited this country for the purpose Of III
trUIuclng the method recommended by Locke for
trarhug languages, cudUavuring in the meantime,
H. support himself by such chance employment rs
lie could obtain. Iii this, however, hu was not suc.
Ces>ul and he abandoned this course for that of a
teacher uf country district school. AftCr spend.
ing seven months In this occupation, he entered rs
regular pupil Of the RCalemy. where he remained
until his means were exhausted and then returned
IL school teaching and ut the expiration Of his sec
und term again renewed his connection with the
academy. AMER continuing his studies here for
some time he was, through the recommendation Ui
Dr. 7. Romcyn Beck, principal of the academy Rp-
pointed private tutor to the family Of General
stephen Van Rens.GlaeT The patron patron Of Rens;
him only about three hours In the day, and the re.
mainder of his time was spent rs an assistant TO Dr..
Beck In his chemical Investigations and In the
study Of anatomy and physiology under Drs, Tully
aud Marsh with view TO graduating in medicine
HIS COURSE OF LIFE,
however, was suddenly changed by an offer through
the influence Of Judge Cunkling, with whom he
had become a favOrite, of AN appointment on the
survey Of a route for q state rOud from the Hudson
River 10 Lake Erie through the southern tier OF
counties. His labOrS in this work were exceedingly
arLuuus and responsible. They extended far into
the winter, and the operations were carried on In
some instances amid deep SHOWS, ia prilneyal
forests
Having finished the survey with tho npproba.
tion of the commissioners, on his return 10 Albany
he was offered the position Of engineer on Il canal
In Ohio aud of director Ofa mine In Mexico: but
the proessOrship Of mathematics In the academy
having fallen vacant lie was elected TO nll the
! chair. Having, however, become enAmOrcd with
the profession of an engineer he very reluctantly
accepted the position, IL accordance with the
The duties of the office did not commence for
Ave or six months and this time be devoted to the
exploration of the geology Of New fnrkwith PrJies
sUr Eaton ufthc Rensselaer, School He entered upon
his duties In the academy in September, 1876, and
. n(tcr deyOting some time to the study Of nathe.
mntiCs and other subjects pertaining TO his pro.
/ G,sSrrship he commenced a series Of original in
v,stigati6ns on electricity and magnetism the hrs
regular series on Natural Philosophy which had
been prosecuted IN this country since the days U
. FlumklM. These researches made him lnvDrthly
known. not only in this country, alsOIn Europe
and led To his Cnll, In ls2, through the nomination
, . OF DR.. MaClCan, 10 the
CHAIR OF SATURAL PHILOSOPHY
in the College Of Nrw Jersey. at Princeton.
Ia the iir>, year "i hs course IN this college dur
Ing the l,.uIIcv ui the professor Of chemistry pr
I,,rr,v IN Europe, hr gave lectures in natural his
t,,ry rnrIhi,try miuuTulUgy, geology astronomy
aud architecture. In the chemical rOurse Ire wa
u,.I.'rl hy lIr. GCIgr MRCluRm. In teaching lhr,t
multifart ms biUuUhc, he wns unable during thC
liul.s: ifIt after that time he commenced ul.rv
where lr hud left OF at Albany, Hld prosecuted hi
urigiuul researches Uut hr wa, called to his !at,
u,si'lOu iu Washington. In lNEl he Wa uluCtr,
ilruI,. sur uf mutual philosophy IN the lnivcr>it,
Of Ntr-auiu. lie Uucr was tempting one. sInri
the ui,.umCntN CrnEvr'cd with the pruirsspr,!i,
In the NIrgH.H University MurC ~ utter ihun pcT
LaI, in any thur ~ The country; while the .u!Gr
nj rrlnn.,Gu was small and scarcely suluuelt t.
,IIra,rt his family aud " meet the other demand
upon him.
'Uu Was, however, reluctant to leave the pIac
vL,ly he h,d experienced 80 much Nry.ii.ml
. Kin lIr-s and CuvIuEgiug nprc'ihtiDu It ma,
l.uruIh,urd Irr1nl", A. an Interesting lu"i H.,
,,rU H. samuel /. ~pu,hurd at uIIp time -rrr,ir.r,
,r ll,r Saw uui ore Vi the trustees of tn, rl.
whom H.. had PIC u'r'i the r,sc. sad in IupIv
IF y,u I.y To- the ordinary "gu Oi ~, -, yru ".
, a rr .'lrv lr'N".u d. NplIh ami S,,Ii'II uL +,
,,.,. ease yuuI Iu-'Ii. u iu Nurnia may not l..
l,,a,,.Ir" Ih.u,h lii. remark WHs ~, v.,lr. /
p ...,,. but .ilr. 'i'-' uu ne rTp'r-,,.. ul.I l
fit..r