Joseph Henry was an American scientist and developer best known for his works in the field of electromagnetism. Born and raised in a poor family, Joseph developed an interest in science in his late teen years. After his initial education, he enrolled at The Albany Academy in New York and got inspired to do work towards research in electromagnetics. While working in the field, he discovered the phenomenon of self-inductance. While Michael Faraday published his studies first, both he and Joseph are known as the pioneers of the electromagnetic field which practically shaped the modern world. While working as a professor at the College of New Jersey, he further indulged in inventions such as the telegraph and a motor that worked through the principles of electromagnetism. He was a highly revered scientist during his lifetime and was made the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Serving in his position, he helped several inventors to bring their ideas to fruition, such as Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. Joseph also served as a close aid to President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War.