Search results
Joseph Henry (December 17, 1797 [1][2] – May 13, 1878) was an American scientist who served as the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the secretary for the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, a precursor of the Smithsonian Institution. [3]
Joseph Henry was one of the first great American scientists after Benjamin Franklin. He aided and discovered several important principles of electricity, including self-induction, a phenomenon of primary importance in electronic circuitry.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Early Years
- Smithsonian Secretary
- Research Advocate
- Challenges
- First Among American Scientists
ZoomAlbany Academy Where Joseph Henry Taught, by Unknown, Unknown, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 96-4474.Born in 1797 near Albany, New York, Henry experienced a difficult childhood, living with relatives. He apprenticed to a watchmaker and a silversmith briefly, but was drawn to a career on the stage. An accidental encounter with a popular bo...
The Smithsonian Board of Regents appointed Henry the first Secretary of the newly founded Institution in December of 1846. It was a difficult decision for Henry as a scientist and for his family. He knew the new position would make significant demands on his time, but he was committed to advancing American science and seeking federal support for sc...
ZoomProgramme of Organization for Smithsonian Institution, by Unknown, 1847, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 96-1630.Henry remained committed to basic research, however, and saw the support of original scientific work as the Smithsonian's primary mission. His 1847 "Programme of Organization," therefore, included the publication and distribution...
ZoomMary Henry, Daughter of Secretary Henry, by Unknown, c. 1855, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 82-3258.The Henry family was surrounded by those at the top of the scientific community and had an insider's view of life and politics in the nation's capital. Their tenure in Washington also included the Civil War, which brought thousands of troop...
ZoomJoseph Henry Statue on Mall, by Bounds, A. Pierce, 1979, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, 79-13842-19 or SIA79-13842-19.In December 1877, while preparing to conduct experiments for the Light-House Board at Staten Island, New York, Joseph Henry suffered what he described as a "paralytic attack" in his right hand, accompanied by chest pain and...
- chased
- 2012
The first Smithsonian Secretary, Joseph Henry, served from 1846 to 1878. A professor at the College of New Jersey, he was a physicist who conducted pioneering research in electromagnetism and helped set the Smithsonian on its course.
Joseph Henry was an American scientist who pioneered the construction of strong, practical electromagnets and built one of the first electromagnetic motors.
Joseph Henry (1797–1878) was the most noted scientist in the United States when he was selected to serve as the first Secretary, or chief executive officer, of the new Smithsonian Institution in 1846. This site will provide an overview of his life and accomplishments.
Feb 26, 2019 · Joseph Henry (born December 17, 1797 in Albany, New York) was a physicist known for his pioneering work in electromagnetism, his support and promotion of scientific advancement in America, and for his role as the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, which he helped shape into an academic and research center.
