BACHE, bnch, ALEXANDER DALLAS ( S06-67 ) . An American physicist. lie was born in Phila delphia, and was a grandson of Benjamin Frank lin. lie graduated at West Point, in 1825, be came a lieutenant in the corps of engineers, and remained some time at the Military Academy as instructor. Ile was employed under Colonel Tot ten on the fortifications at Newport, where he married Nancy Clarke Fowler. Bache was ap pointed professor of natural philosophy and chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, in 1828, and was an early member of the Fraoldin Institute, publishing many valuable scientific pa pers in its journals. lle established the first magnetic observatory in the united States, where the periods of the daily variations of the mag netie needle were fully determined, and other in teresting observations made. A magnetic survey of Pennsylvania, made by Professor Ilaehe, marks the beginning of the magnetic work since carried on by the States Coast and ;eo &tie Survey. In 18:36 lie became president of the trustees of Girard College, and visited Eu rope to examine educational systems for the in formation of the board, who were about to organize that institution. report, submitted in 18:38, was of great value in suggesting im provements in edueational methods. Before the college was organized, Bache became connected with the public-school system of Philadelphia, and developed the system of free education in that city. At the same time he was aetively engaged in scientific work, particularly in the examination of meteorological and magnetic phe nomena. In 1842 he returned to his professorship
in the university, and in 1843 wa. appointed superintendent of the United States Coast Sur vey, succeeding F. B. Hassler, the first incumbent of that position. He reorganized and extended the work of the survey and laid the foundations which have brought the service to it, present recognized efficiency.
Professor Bache was also a member of the lighthouse board. superintendent of and an incorporator and regent of the Smithsonian Institution, vice-president of the United States Sanitary Commission. president of the Ameriean Philosophical Society, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a founder and member of the National Academy of Sciences. and associate of ninny im portant scientific institutions at home and abroad. Ile was the recipient of many honors, including the degree of LL.D. from several col leges, and medals from foreign government- and learned bodies. Ile gave $42.000 to the National Academy of Sciences for the promotion of its work in furthering scientific research. His im portant works are: Observations at the Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory of Girard Col lege, reports on weights and measures. and various essays in the seientifie journals and the liroeeedings of learned societies. Consult: Henry. "Memoir of Alexander Dallas Bache," Vol. I., Biographical Memoirs National :If-alb-my of Sci !aces, reprinted in Smithsonian Report for 1870.