Research topic: Joseph Henry

Joseph Henry 1797-1878, American physicist, b. Albany, N.Y., educated at Albany Academy. He taught (1826-32) mathematics and natural philosophy at Albany Academy and was professor of natural philosophy (1832-46) at Princeton (then the College of New Jersey). From 1846 he served as the first secretary and director of the newly founded Smithsonian Institution; he introduced and developed many of its activities and established its general policies. Before assuming his responsibilities at the Smithsonian, he had made notable contributions to the physical sciences, especially in electromagnetism.... Read more