Joseph Henry

Joseph Henry
1st Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
In office
1846–1878
Succeeded bySpencer Fullerton Baird
2nd President of the National Academy of Sciences
In office
1868–1879
Preceded byAlexander Dallas Bache
Succeeded byWilliam Barton Rogers
Personal details
Born(1797-12-17)December 17, 1797
Albany, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 13, 1878(1878-05-13) (aged 80)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Spouse(s)Harriet Henry (née Alexander)
ChildrenWilliam Alexander (1832–1862)
Mary Anna (1834–1903)
Helen Louisa (1836–1912)
Caroline (1839–1920)
Alma materThe Albany Academy
Known forElectromagnetic induction, Inventor of a precursor to the electric doorbell and electric relay
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsThe Albany Academy
The College of New Jersey
Smithsonian Institution
Columbian College

Joseph Henry  (December 17, 1797 – 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 previous form of the Smithsonian Institution.[1] While building electromagnets, Henry discovered electromagnetism, He also discovered mutual inductance independently of Michael Faraday though Faraday was the first to make the discovery and publish his results.[2][3][4] Henry also developed the electromagnet into a practical device. Among his inventions was the electric doorbell (specifically a bell that could be rung at a distance via an electric wire, invented in 1831)[5] and the electric relay (1835).[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Planning a National Museum". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "A Brief History of Electromagnetism" (PDF).
  3. ↑ Ulaby, Fawwaz (2001-01-31). Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-13-032931-8.
  4. ↑ "Joseph Henry". Distinguished Members Gallery, National Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2006-11-30.
  5. ↑ Scientific writings of Joseph Henry, Volume 30, Issue 2. Smithsonian Institution. 1886. p. 434. ISBN 9780598400116.
  6. ↑ "The electromechanical relay of Joseph Henry". Georgi Dalakov. 4 January 2021.

Other websites

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