Establishment of The Board
By 1847, Congress became serious about reforming the Lighthouse Establishment and in response to a number of complaints, Congress removed the responsibility for the construction of six new light stations from Treasury's Fifth Auditor (Pleasonton), and transferred it to the supervision of the Corps of Engineers. When it became clear that this would not alleviate the underlying problems in the Lighthouse Establishment, Congress felt compelled to deal the final blow to Pleasanton's administration. The ensuing congressional investigation took more than four years to effect a change in the administration of navigation aids. During that time, congressional appointee Lt Jenkins of the Coast Survey conducted interviews with pilots and mariners, engaged in domestic and foreign research, and was involved in a number of hearings into existing navigation aids administration.
On March 3, 1851, Congress passed An Act Making Appropriations for Light House, Light Boats, Buoys, &c. Section 8 of the act stated:
The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and required to cause a board to be convened at as early a day as may be practical after the passage of that act to be comprised of two officers of the Navy of high rank, two officers of Engineers of the Army, and such civil officers of scientific attainments as may be under the orders or at the disposition of the Treasury Department, and a junior officer of the Navy to act as Secretary to said board, whose duty it shall be under instructions from the Treasury Department to inquire into the condition of the Lighthouse Establishment of the United States, and make a general detailed report and programme to guide legislation in extending and improving our present system of construction, illumination, inspection, and superintendence.
The Lighthouse Board resulted from this mandate, and its original members consisted of William B. Shubrick, and Samuel F. Du Pont, U.S. Navy; James Kearney, U.S. Topographical Engineers; civilian academics Alexander Dallas Bache, Superintendent U.S. Coast Survey and Joseph Henry; and Lt. Thornton Jenkins, U.S. Navy, who acted as Secretary.
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