Henry, Joseph (1797–1878), physicist and first director of the
Smithsonian Institution.Born in Albany, New York, Joseph Henry attended the Albany Academy between 1818 and 1822. He taught physics and mathematics at the Albany Academy (1826–1832) and physics at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University (1832–1846), before being elected secretary (director) of the Smithsonian in 1846.
Henry was the first American since Benjamin
Franklin to gain an international reputation in experimental physics, especially electromagnetic induction. His pioneering work on the nature of
electricity, magnetism, and the interaction between the two was valued both for its own sake and because it demonstrated how understanding nature could lead to technological advancement. His research proved essential for the development of the
telegraph. Among his other discoveries were the concept of the transformer and the oscillatory nature of the discharge of a capacitor. In recognition of his discoveries in electromagnetic induction, the unit of inductance, the “henry,” was named after him.
As director of the Smithsonian, he set aside his personal research program to become an administrator and spokesperson for the importance of basic scientific research. At the Smithsonian, Henry established a program of direct support of research, scholarly publication, and international exchange. He supported research not only in the natural sciences, but also in
anthropology and ethnography.
Often compared to Franklin, Henry became a larger‐than‐life symbol of American accomplishment in science and the acclaimed father of modern electrical technology, including the electric motor and the
telephone. The premier American physicist of the mid–nineteenth century and an able institution builder, Henry, as a leader of American science, sought to establish rigorous standards for the scientific community and to increase the level of public support for research. His early accomplishments in the laboratory and his important discoveries accorded him the prestige and respect necessary for his success as a science administrator and spokesperson.
See also
American Association for the Advancement of Science;
Coast and Geodetic Survey, U.S.;
Electrical Industry;
Mathematics and Statistics;
Physical Sciences;
Science: Revolutionary War to World War I.
Bibliography
Robert V. Bruce , The Launching of Modern American Science 1846–1876, 1987.
Albert E. Moyer , Joseph Henry: The Rise of an American Scientist, 1997.
Marc Rothenberg