Alexander Dallas Bache facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Dallas Bache
A 19th century illustration of Bache and his signature
6th Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey
In office 1843–1867
President	James K. Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler
Succeeded by	Benjamin Peirce
1st President of the National Academy of Sciences
In office 1863–1867
Succeeded by	Joseph Henry
Personal details
Born	(1806-07-19)July 19, 1806 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 17, 1867(1867-02-17) (aged 60) Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
Resting place	Congressional Cemetery
Nationality	American
Spouse	Nancy Clark Fowler
Children	1
Alma mater	US Military Academy
Known for	coastal mapping project
Scientific career
Fields	Physics
Institutions	University of Pennsylvania

Alexander Dallas Bache (born July 19, 1806 – died February 17, 1867) was an important American scientist. He was a physicist and a surveyor. He helped build forts along the coast. He also made detailed maps of the eastern United States coastline.

Bache started his career as an army engineer. Later, he became the leader of the United States Coast Survey. He made this organization a top science group in the country. This was before the Civil War.

Who Was Alexander Dallas Bache?

Alexander Dallas Bache was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Richard Bache, Jr., and Sophia Burrell Dallas Bache. His family was well-known in American politics.

He was the nephew of Vice-President George M. Dallas. He was also the nephew of naval hero Alexander J. Dallas. His grandfather was Alexander Dallas, who was Secretary of the Treasury. Most famously, he was the great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin.

Bache's Early Career and Education

Becoming an Engineer

Bache went to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1825 as the best student in his class. After graduating, he taught engineering there for a while.

He became a second lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He worked on building Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. Bache left the Army on June 1, 1829.

Teaching and Education Work

From 1828 to 1841, Bache was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He taught natural philosophy (which is like physics) and chemistry. He returned to teach there again from 1842 to 1843.

Between 1836 and 1838, he traveled in Europe. He was looking at different education systems for what would become Girard College. When he came back, he became the president of the college. He also wrote a helpful report about what he learned. From 1839 to 1842, he was the first president of Central High School of Philadelphia. This is one of the oldest public high schools in the U.S.

Leading the U.S. Coast Survey

Mapping the Coastline

In 1843, Professor Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler passed away. Alexander Bache was then chosen to lead the United States Coast Survey. He convinced the United States Congress that this work was very important.

With their help, he finished mapping the entire U.S. coastline. He did this by dividing the work among many teams. They also set up many stations to observe and collect data. Besides mapping, they also gathered information about the Earth's magnetism and weather. Bache led the Coast Survey for 24 years, until he died.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Bache received many honors for his scientific work:

• He became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1829.
• He was chosen as an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1845.
• He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh on March 15, 1858.
• He was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society on May 24, 1860.

After the Civil War, Bache was honored by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). This was because of his important help during the war.

Bache's Family Life

On September 30, 1838, he married Nancy Clark Fowler in Newport, Rhode Island. Nancy was born in Newport and passed away on January 13, 1870, in Philadelphia. She helped him publish many of his scientific works. They adopted one son, Henry Wood Bache (1839–1878).

His Final Years

Bache's gravesite at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Alexander Dallas Bache died in Newport, Rhode Island, on February 17, 1867. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. His grave monument was designed by a famous architect, Henry Hobson Richardson.

Bache's Lasting Impact

Ships Named After Him

Two survey ships were named in his honor:

• The A. D. Bache from 1871.
• And its successor from 1901.

Other Tributes

• A type of ctenophore (a sea creature) called Pleurobrachia bachei was named after him. It was discovered in 1859 by Alexander Agassiz. Agassiz was working as an engineer on a ship mapping the border between Washington state and British Columbia.
• The 5th-8th grade building of Bache-Martin School in Philadelphia is named after him.

See also

• Alexander Dallas Bache Monument, Bache's gravesite in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
• Alexander Dallas Bache School in Philadelphia
• Alexander Bache U.S. Coast Survey Line
• Richard Bache, Bache's paternal grandfather and son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin
• Richard Bache, Jr., Bache's father
• Sarah Franklin Bache, Bache's paternal grandmother and daughter of Benjamin Franklin