The Lost World of James Smithson: Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the SmithsonianIn 1836 the United States government received a strange and unprecedented gift- a half-million dollar bequest to establish a foundation in Washington for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. The Smithsonian Institution, as it would be called, eventually grew into the largest museum and research complex in the world. Yet the man behind what became America's attic, James Smithson, has remained a shadowy figure for more than 150 years. Drawing on unpublished diaries and letters from across Europe and the United States, historian Heather Ewing tells his compelling story in full. |
Contents
A New Race of Chemists | 262 |
Private Vices Publick Benefits | 271 |
The Will 18251829 | 295 |
Copyright | |
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American April Archives Batut became Berthollet BL Add British Cavendish Charles Blagden chemical chemist chemistry collection Davies Giddy death diary Dickinson discovery Duke of Northumberland Edinburgh eighteenth century Elizabeth Macie England English Europe Fabbroni father Faujas Florence France French Genoa gentleman George Keate Greville Henry Hoare's House Humphry Davy Hungerford Italy James Smithson John Journal July Kirwan knowledge laboratory Lady Holland Lady Webster late later Lavoisier lectures letter London Lord Holland Louis mineral mineralogy mother Museum Napoleon National Biography Oxford natural history nephew November Papers Paris Pembroke Percy Petrini portrait probably quoted Record Revolution Rhees Richard Kirwan Richard Rush Royal Institution Royal Society scientific scientists September Sir Joseph Banks Smithson bequest Smithson Library Smithson Tennant Smithson wrote Smithson's friend Smithsonian Institution specimens Staffa tabasheer Thomas Tönning Tour University William Thomson young