Obsequies of the Late Professor Bache
Professor Alexander Dallas Bache was born, July 19, 1806 at Philadelphia, Pa. He was the nephew of George M. Dallas, former Vice President of the United States, and great-grandson of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy July 1, 1825, at the head of a distinguished class and served for one year as Assistant Professor of Engineering at the Military Academy. Before leaving the Army in 1829, Bache was called to the chair of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, which position he held for eight years. During that time he was also engaged upon scientific researches in chemistry and physics; and, as a member of the Franklin Institute, actively participated in its work, particularly in experimenting on steam-boiler explosions.
In 1836 he organized Girard College and became its first President He went to Europe to study European methods of instruction and discipline; and, upon his return made an elaborate report on scientific and literary education, which was subsequently as adopted by the Philadelphia school system.
Bache served as Superintendent of the Geodetic and Hydrographic Survey of the Coasts of the United States, and of the Office of Weights and Measures from 1843 until his death. In addition, he established standard Weights and Measures for the United States; served as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution; was a member of the Light-house Board; and was Commissioner for various harbor and river improvements. During the Civil War, Bache was Vice-President of the U.S. Sanitary Commission. He was President of the American Philosophical Society; of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences; and founder and first president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The funeral procession will be formed at the Coast Survey office, on New Jersey Avenue at 3 p.m. on Sunday, in the following order:
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