BACHE, ALEXANDER DALLAS Ameri can physicist, great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., July 19, i8o6. After graduating at the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1825, and holding an assistant professorship there, he was for a year or two a lieutenant in the corps of engineers engaged on coast fortifications. He was professor of natural philosophy and chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania in 1828-41 and president of the trustees of Girard college in 1836. He visited Europe to examine European systems of education, and on his return published a very valuable report. In 1843, he was appointed superintendent of the U.S. coast survey. By means of the liberal aid which he succeeded in obtaining from Congress, he carried out a singularly comprehensive plan with great ability and most satisfactory results. By a skilful division of labour, and by the erection of numerous observing stations, the mapping out of the whole coast proceeded simultaneously under the supervision of Bache, and by this method a vast mass of magnetic and meteorological observations was collected. He died at Newport, R.I., Feb. 17, 1867.