Downtown in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Joseph Henry

Pathfinder in Science

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 22, 2008

1. Joseph Henry Marker - Detail - Center Panel

Inscription. Joseph Henry
Pathfinder in Science
Born in Albany
1797
Died in Washington
1878
[Left Panel]:
I arranged around one of the upper rooms in the Albany Academy a wire of more than a mile in length throvgh which I was enabled to make signals by sounding a bell. Joseph Henry This experiment was made in 1838 while he was a teacher in the academy

[Right Panel]:
He discovered self induction and his contributions to the knowledge of electro magnetism are essential to the Electric Telegraph, the Telephone, the Dynamo, the Motor & Radio.

Erected 1927.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Education • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1797.

Location. 42° 39.174′ N, 73° 45.285′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Downtown. Marker can be reached from Elk Street. The Marker and scupture are located in Albany's Academy Park, beside the former Albany Academy. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albany NY 12207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of 1 Elk St. (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary Soldiers Memorial

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Academy Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of Modern Electricity (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Court of Appeals (about 300 feet away); Kilian Van Rensselaer (about 400 feet away); LaFayette Park (about 400 feet away); 1624-1924 (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

More about this marker. The bronze sculpture depicts Joseph Henry as a young man standing and holding an electromagnetic device in his proper left hand. He appears to be conducting an experiment. He stands next to a bench with a coat and hat thrown over it. Henry wears a buttoned vest and open jacket. The sculpture is mounted on a concave-shaped, tiered base. The sculpture is placed on the central, pedestal-like section which is flanked on either side by two lower panels that end in benches.

Regarding Joseph Henry. Joseph Henry (December 17, 1797 – May 13, 1878) was an American scientist who served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. During his

Joseph Henry Marker </b>- Detail - Left Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 22, 2008

2. Joseph Henry Marker - Detail - Left Panel

lifetime, he was considered one of the greatest American scientists since Benjamin Franklin. While building electromagnets, Henry discovered the electromagnetic phenomenon of self-inductance. He also discovered mutual inductance independently of Michael Faraday, though Faraday was the first to publish his results. Henry's work on the electromagnetic relay was the basis of the electrical telegraph, jointly invented by Samuel Morse and Charles Wheatstone.

In the International System of Units, the unit of inductance, the henry, is named after Joseph Henry.

Also see . . . Albany Academy - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation. (Submitted on December 12, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Joseph Henry Marker </b>- Detail - Right Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 22, 2008

3. Joseph Henry Marker - Detail - Right Panel

Joseph Henry Marker - Albany, NY image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 22, 2008

4. Joseph Henry Marker - Albany, NY

Joseph Henry Marker in Academy Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 22, 2008

5. Joseph Henry Marker in Academy Park

The Joseph Henry statue stands in Albany's Academy Park which is just across Washington Ave. from the New York State Capitol. The building behind the statue is the former Albany Academy, and is now the home of the offices of the Albany City School district.

Joseph Henry Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 22, 2008

6. Joseph Henry Statue

Detail of Joseph Henry Statue

Joseph Henry - 1879 image. Click for full size.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's People Collection

7. Joseph Henry - 1879

Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, good friend of Alexander Dallas Bache, 2nd superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 3,010 times since then and 108 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 24, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.