ABSTRACT
One of the most fortunate events in the history of American science was the selection of Professor Joseph Henry of Princeton to fill this important and difficult post. He had made a reputation as a "natural philosopher" through his basic discoveries in the field of electromagnetism. Henry outlined his meteorological proposals in his annual report for 1848. Henry had inaugurated three projects basic to his plan: the establishment of a system of meteorological observations throughout the country, centered at the Smithsonian; the organization of a system for the international exchange of scientific publications; and the beginnings of a publication program. The plan was to obtain weather reports from a great network of voluntary observers scattered over the country, particularly for the purpose of assembling long-range data on climate and weather from stations in every region. Henry inherited a conservatism regarding money matters from his Scottish Presbyterian ancestors.
