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Advertiser," afterward known as the " Aurora," which violently opposed the administrations of both Washington and Adams, and was one of the ablest and most influential journals of the time. — Alexander Dallas, grandson of Richard, b. in Philadelpliia, Pa., 19 July, 1806; d. in New- port, R. I., 17 Feb., 1867. lie early showed an unusual aptitude for learning, and his first in- struction was received at a classical school in Philadelphia. At the age of fourteen he was ap- pointed to the U. S. military academy, where, al- though the youngest member of his class, he was at its head when graduated in 1825. His failure to receive a demerit during the four years is cited as one of the few instances of that character in the history of the academy, so noted for its rigid discipline. On his graduation he was appointed lieutenant in the corps of engineers, but was re- tained at the academy as assistant professor of en- gineering during 1826, when, until 1829, he served as assistant engineer in the construction of Fort Adams, at Newport, R. I., under Col. J. G. Totten. Here he met Miss Nancy Clarke Fowler, who after- ward became his wife and also his associate in the preparation of much of his published material. In 1838 he was called to the chair of natural phi- losophy and chemistry at the University of Penn- sylvania, which he occupied un- til 1841. His resignation from the army is dated 1 June, 1829. Soon after his arrival in Phila- delphia he be- came a member of the Frank- lin Institute, and at once actively participated in its work, as its " Journal " be- tween 1826 and 1886 abundant- ly testifies. His

most important

labor at this time was undoubtedly the investi- gations relating to the bursting of steam boilers. His valuable researches in various branches of physics and chemistry, published in the "Trans- actions of the American Philosophical Society," of which he was a prominent member, belong to these years, and his first meteorological investiga- tions date from this period. In 1886 he was in- trusted with the organization of Girard College, Philadelphia, became its first president, and was sent to Europe to study the systems of education and methods of instruction and discipline adopted there. On his return in 1889 the results were em- bodied in a report made to the trustees, which did much to improve the theory and art of education in this country. Owing to the unfinished condi- tion of the college, and in consequence of some delay in the adjustment of its funds, it was not deemed advisable to organize it at once for active operations ; therefore Prof. Bache offered his ser- • vices to the municipal government. He became principal of the high school, and during 1841-2 was superintendent" of the public schools. The system developed by him while in office has smce been generally regarded as a model, and has been introduced in several cities of the union. While in Philadelphia he established, and for some years directed, a magnetical and meteorological observa-

tory, -which was largely supported by the American Philosophical Society. In 1842, having satisfac- torily completed his labors in tlie cause of public instruction, he returned to his chair at the univer- sity, where he remained until November, 1848, when he was appointed to succeed the late P. R. Hassler as superintendent of the coast survey, which place he held until his death. The survey originally recommended to congress by President Jefferson in 1807 was not definitely established until ten years later, when, by the appointment of Mr. Hassler as superintendent, its actual existence began. Under his direction it flourished at times, and the work, though limited in scope, continued until his death ; but with the advent of Prof. Bache the undertaking assumed larger propor- tions, and improved plans for extended operations were put into execution. During his able admin- istration the practical value of the survey was thor- oughly demonstrated. In the accomplishment of his designs he was not only aided by congress, but his efforts were likewise greatly encouraged by the approval of scientific societies and their leaders. During the civil war he greatly assisted the naval and military forces by placing the resources of the coast survey at their disposal, and from June to December, 1868, he was chief engineer for devising and constructing the defences of Philadelphia, when it was threatened by the invasion of Pennsylvania. In addition to his work on the coast survey, he was ex-officio superintendent of weights and measures, and served, until his death, on the light-house board. He was one of the incorporators of the Smithsonian Institute, 1846, and annually during his life was reelected by congress. He was active in its direction and in the shaping of its policy. During the civil war he was elected a vice-president of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, and rendered efficient aid in its work. The University of New York in 1886, the University of Pennsylvania in 1837, and Harvard in 1851, conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He served as president of the American Philosophical Society, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was the first presiding officer of the National Academy of Sciences, as well as one of its incorporators and most active members. The Royal Society of London, the Institute of France, the Royal Academy of Turin, the Imperial Geographical Society of Vienna, and many similar organizations, included him among their honorary members. The excellence of his work on the coast survey was acknowledged by different foreign governments, and he was the recipient of several medals for his prommence in the field of science. His published papers include more than 150 titles and include various topics in physics, chemistry, and engineering. His most extensive work was the " Observations at the Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory at the Girard College " (3 vols., 1840-'7). His property, to the extent of $42,000, was left in trust to the National Academy of Sciences; the income is to be devoted to physical research. See the " Memoir of Alexander Dallas Bache," by Joseph Henry, with a list of his papers published in Volume I. of the " Biogi-aphieal Memoirs" of the National Academy of Sciences. This memoir appears in the Smithsonian Report for 1870, and also as a special issue in the publications of the Smithsonian Institute.— Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin Bache, physician, b. in Philadelphia, 25 Oct., 1792; d. there, 19 March. 1864. He was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1810, and received his medical diploma from the same university in 1814. In 1813 he entered