Presidents who loved science
Established in 1885 to honor President George Washington, Presidents’ Day gained worldwide popularity after becoming part of the 1971 Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to give American workers more 3-day weekends. Presidents' Day is now seen as a time to celebrate all US presidents, both past and present.
Since we love science, we wanted to highlight some leaders who showed how much they loved science, too.
Thomas Jefferson - Thomas Jefferson loved science, engineering, architecture, and philosophy. He created his own clock that ran using cannonballs and the Earth's gravitational pull, and he also designed his own home, Monticello. Jefferson founded a university, the University of Virginia, and sponsored the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the western part of America.
John Quincy Adams - John Quincy Adams had a big part to play in making the American economy better and setting up foundations to keep it running. He created a uniform system of measurements, made it easier for people to get patents on their ideas, ordered surveys of the coasts, and was one of the first people to think about using science as a way to grow businesses and invent new things. He also loved looking at the stars. As a result, he formed an observatory (which is now called the U.S. Naval Observatory) and helped build the Smithsonian Institution.
Abraham Lincoln - Did you know President Lincoln created the National Academy of Sciences? He was determined to modernize American farming practices and helped farmers learn new methods, machinery, and ideas to make their land better. He even held a patent for creating a way to lift ships off sandbars and shoals. Abraham Lincoln also encouraged finding different energy sources than whale oil.
Theodore Roosevelt - Theodore Roosevelt is remembered for his remarkable efforts in the preservation and development of nature. He declared that we must use our natural resources responsibly instead of wasting them or depriving future generations of their potential. An enthusiastic learner with an interest in both geography and biology, President Roosevelt published books on birds, enjoyed being outdoors, and started the Forest Reserve Act which saved 150 million acres of land for public use—the most ever done by a president! He also founded the U.S. Forest Service. After leaving office, he took part in the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition which explored the Amazon rainforest.
Jimmy Carter - Jimmy Carter was super interested in science! He had a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in science and he was even an engineer. President Carter was a major supporter of the Space Shuttle program and the building of the Hubble Space Telescope. In 1977, he sent his own special message out into space by having two Voyager spacecrafts carry a golden phonograph with his words on it. He started the U.S. Department of Energy, encouraged ways for people to save energy, and researched ways for alternative energy sources.
