Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1806, July 19 | Born, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1821-1825 | Attended United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. |
| 1825-1826 | Assistant, Department of Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. |
| 1826-1828 | Assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers, Newport, R.I. |
| 1828 | Married Nancy Clarke Fowler |
| 1828-1836 | Professor of natural philosophy and chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1829 | Elected member, American Philosophical Society and the Franklin Institute |
| 1833-1836 | Member, Board of Trustees, Girard College, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1836 | Elected president, Girard College, Philadelphia, Pa. Went to Europe to observe educational institutions, methods, and discipline |
| 1839 | Published Report on Education in Europe. Philadelphia: Lydia R. Bailey Appointed principal, Central High School, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1840 | Resigned as president of Girard College to be superintendent of schools, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1842 | Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| 1843-1867 | Superintendent, United States Coast Survey |
| 1850-1851 | President, American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| 1855-1857 | President, American Philosophical Society |
| 1861-1865 | Vice president, United States Sanitary Commission |
| 1863 | Planned the defense of Philadelphia, Pa., against Robert E. Lee's advance into the North |
| 1863-1867 | Charter member and first president, National Academy of Sciences |
| 1864-1865 | Visited Europe to recover his health |
| 1867, Feb. 17 | Died in Newport, R.I. |