JOSEPH HENRY - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 03/07/1841 - HFSID 1761

JOSEPH HENRY
Joseph Henry writes a letter saying that he needs to have the package at the Institute before April 1.
Manuscript Letter signed: "Joseph Henry" as Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1p, 7¾x10. Washington, D.C., 1841 March 4. To Edward Jarvis, M.D., Dorchester, Massachusetts. In full: "In reply to your letter of the 2dJust, [illegible] beg leave to say that your package for distribution abroad will be in time for the transmission now being made up by the Institution if sent [illegible] so that they will reach Washington by the 1st of April. Truly, yours, etc."  Joseph Henry (1797-1878), a physicist and scientific administrator, discovered electromagnetic induction and self-induction. He is also credited with the invention of the electric motor (1829) and later invented low-resistance and high-resistance galvanometers. In 1893, his name was given to the standard electrical unit of inductive resistance, the henry. In 1846, Henry became the first Secretary of the newly organized Smithsonian Institution, where he established a continuing tradition of research. Under his leadership, weather reporting stations were connected by telegraph in the U.S. In the spring of 1863, Henry was one of the founding members of the National Academy of Science and served as Academy President from 1867. He was both President of the National Academy of Science and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution until his death. Alexander Twilling developed the first commercially viable ice-making machine in 1856. Slightly soiled. Vertical folds not near signature. Encapsulated. Overall, fine condition.