Born:  1797
 Died:  May 13, 1878 in Washington, DC, United States

Joseph Henry grew up in a poor family; and never received much formal education.  He was an apprentice to a watchmaker when he was thirteen years old.  His interest in science began when he was sixteen years old. He followed a pet rabbit underneath a church and noticed missing floorboards.  He then climbed into the building through the hole and there he found a shelf full of books.  The books were on experimental philosophy.  He read the books and was then hooked on science.

    Later he enrolled at the Albany Academy to improve his knowledge. While he was at the academy he became a teacher at the country schools to earn money.  He graduated and took a surveying job that led him into the engineering field...