James Smithson

Date of Birth: June 5, 1765

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: June 27, 1829

Biography

James Smithson was a British scientist, chemist, and mineralogist, best known for founding the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. Born in Paris, France, to Hugh Smithson, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and Elizabeth Hungerford Keate Macie, he was an illegitimate child who later adopted the surname Smithson. Despite his illegitimacy, he received a good education, attending Pembroke College, Oxford, where he excelled in chemistry and mineralogy. Smithson’s scientific career was marked by numerous publications and contributions to the scientific community, including his work on the chemical composition of minerals and his research on the nature of electricity. He was a member of the Royal Society of London, where he interacted with many leading scientists of his time. Smithson’s most enduring legacy, however, is the Smithsonian Institution. He left his entire estate to the United States to create an institution “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” This bequest, despite legal challenges, led to the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution, which has become one of the world’s leading educational and research organizations.

5 Interesting Facts about James Smithson

1. James Smithson never visited the United States, the country that benefited most from his legacy.

2. He was a passionate advocate for scientific research and believed in the universal accessibility of knowledge.

3. Smithson’s bequest to the United States was made despite having no direct connections to the country.

4. He was buried in Genoa, Italy, but his remains were later moved to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

5. Smithson’s personal fortune was largely inherited from his mother and augmented through careful financial management and scientific endeavors.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from James Smithson

1. “The best blood of England flows in my veins.”

2. “My name shall live in the memory of man when the titles of the Northumberlands and the Percys are extinct and forgotten.”

3. “Every man is a valuable member of society who, by his observations, researches, and experiments, procures knowledge for men.”

4. “It is a moral duty of the learned to make knowledge accessible to all.”

5. “I bequeath the whole of my property… to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

James Smithson’s fortune, which he bequeathed to the United States, was approximately $500,000 at the time of his death, equivalent to about $12 million today.