January
May 17 Regents Unanimously Elect Spencer Baird as Second Secretary
Year:
1878
Month:
may
Day:
17
Date:
Fri, 1878-05-17
SIA Image reference:
Assistant Secretary Spencer Fullerton Baird is unanimously elected the second Secretary by the Board of Regents. Baird's association with the Institution began in 1848 when he was aided by a grant of money from Smithsonian funds for research on the natural history of Pennsylvania. He was appointed the first curator of the National Museum in 1850 and devoted his career to creating a great museum at the Smithsonian. His term as Secretary lasts for nine years, from 1878 until his death in 1887.