National Republican., 1883-04-19
PROF. JOSEPH HENRY.
A Sketch Of the Man Whose Memory is TO be
Specially HonOred To-Day.
now Dreamy, Imaginative Boy Grew
Into Strong and Vigorous Man.
The Great Discoveries Which, Practically Applied,
Gave Us The Telegraph
A List OF Ills Numerous Dlscovcries-rhe
Laws OF Storms.

Joseph Henry was born in Albany, state of
New York, Dec IL, 1897, or 1893. The exact
year is a matter OF doubt. His grandparents,
both maternal and paternal emigrated 10 this
country from Scotland, arriving in New York
the day before the battle of Bunker Hill.
The Henrys settled in Delaware county, New
York; the Alexanders, his mothers people, in
Saratoga county. The name was originally
"Hendrie," but, as told by Prof. Henry him
self to Prof. A. NJ. Mayor a short time before
his death, his father for some unknown
reason changed it to its present form. That
father died when his eldest son, Joseph was
nine years old. He passed his boyhood with
his maternal grandmother in the country
near Galway, Saratoga county In his
early boyhood he was not noted for aptness
for study or unusual mind. At an early age
,he was an Office boy in the store Of Mr.. Brod-
erick. He returned to Albany when about
%, and was apprenticed to n silversmith who
failed two years afterward. To this early
training is due his wonderful power of ma
nipulation that in later life characterized his
researches in physics. At this age he devel-
oped a taste for reading. He was dreamy,
imaginative boy, to whom the ordinary
world of commercial utility was an unknown
land. And in all his subsequent life he
showed that he never became imbued with
the commercial spirit, and that mono of the
spirit of the tradesman was his He read ro-
mances and poetry, became fond of the thea
ter, learned the methods Of producing stage
effects, and wrote plays which were acted by a
Juvenile company, of which he was president.
He was remarkable at this age for beauty of
person and grace of address, and it seemed
that his destiny was to be an actor or play
wright; and, in short, under favorable cir
cumstances, to tread in the path John How
ard Payne was then pursuing,
D,,N a.. ..l. Ill ii.
stances acting together, soon guided him to
the road wherein his lifework lay. 1t was
not an accident which threw into his hands
a small book entitled Lectures on Expert
mental Philosophy, Astronomy, and Chemis-
try, by G. Gregory" an English clergy
man. A slight illness had confined him to
the house and he picked up the little book.
1t gave turn to his mind which forever
fixed his destinies. His imagination was
kindled, and in the glowing realms of physi-
cal science he saw more attractive fields for
labor than in the domain of the purely fanci-
full. He devoted himself thence to the ac-
quiring of an elementary education. Hesoon
the means at one time by teaching
county district school, later by
serving as tutor to the sons of Gen. Stephe N
Van Rensselaer,, the PATRON. Then he too k
the direction Of a road survey across tho
southern portion of tho state from West
and much credit He returned to Albany
academy as an assistant teacher, but was very
soon, in 1896 appointed professor Of mathe-
matics. He had already chosen his field and
begun to make physical investigations. 1t
may be mentioned here that he was Of very
delicate physique and health until after his
surveyor experience. From thence until Just
before his death his health was perfect and he
never suffered an ache or pain. The patient,
comprehensive intellect was lodged in mag
nifcent body capable Of answering all de-
mands upon 1t.
Soon after his appointment to this profess
sorship he entered upon the course Of original
and experimental researches in electro-mag-
netism that were rewarded with results so
brilliant and valuable as to attract the atten-
tion of the scientific world and place him at
once in the front rank of original investiga-
tors. Here he mado those great discoveries,
which, in their practical application, have
given us the electric telegraph. He not only
showed how greater magnetic power than
had ever before been supposed possible could
be obtained, but he showed also how, by
means of a battery of u greater number of
plates, known as an intensity battery, the
power thus obtained might be transmitted
through circuit so as to produce its
effect at great distance from tho
operator, and he also distinctly pointed
out the application of this TO the trans
mission of telegraphic signals Long be-
fore the Morse telegraph was invented he
had strung circuit upon circuit around the
walls of the large room in the upper part of
the Albany academy thousands of feet of
copper wire, through the whole length of
which he sent galvanic current so as to ex-
cite magnet and move a lever at tho further
end, which was thus made to strike its signal
on bell. Here in a scientific point of view
was all that was essential to the magnetic
telegraph. That he did not attempt to apply
that he did not see their application, or that
he had not inventive genius but that he had
formed for himself high ideal of life de-
voted to science for Its own sake from which
he would not be diverted by any inferior
claims upon his attention. The stand taken
by him thus early was inflexibly adhered to
through his whole subsequent life. Ho had
no time TO waste in making money. On his
soul there was no faint of the spirit of traffic.
In 1889 he became professor of natural
philosophy in tho college of New Jersey ut
Princeton, where he not only continued to
prosecute with great success and growing
fame his favorite Investigations in electricity
and magnetism, but he also greatly enlarged
the range Of his requirements by studies in
acoustics, optics, astronomy, geology, min
erology, and architecture, in some of which
departments his lectures excited great in
terest and admiration. He had rare power
MS a lecturer He possessed that great gift,
Ol LHb HlButhu OIuOT OI
that Of presenting the deepest truths with q
clearness and simplicity that brought them
within the grasp OF ordinary minds. In 1887
he for the first time visited Europe, where his
valuable contributions to physical science
had made him well known 20 such men as
Faraday, Wheatstone, Airy, and Others, who
received him with the most fattering atten-
tion.
In 1916 he was appointed secretary of the
Smithsonian institution, in that year estab-
lished by act Of congress, This trust was of the
grandest and most comprehensive character.
1t was intended both for the increase and diff
fusion of knowledge. 1t was limited to no
particular branch Of science, and was for the
benefit of all mankind IL was with great
hesitation aud reluctance that Prof. Henry
was induced TO give up the line of original re-
search to which he had been devoted and un-
dertake work SO different from any in which
he had ever been engaged. But yielding to
the solicitations of his friends, he gave him
self to the work earnestly and conscien
tiously. 1t was fortunate for the honor of
the country, and for the permanent interests
of the institution, that such man was
brought TO preside over its original organiza-
tion, and afterward TO direct and control its
administration for the third of a century He
prevented IL becoming college, a library, a
museum, or agricultural school. He did make
1t In the truest and fullest sense an institu-
ton for the creation and diffusion of knowl.
edge among men, The Smithsonian as il
stands was his plan, devised thirty-two years