Vickipedia

SMITHSO’NIAN INSTITUTE, at Washington, District of Columbia, U. S., was organized by act of Congress in 1846, in accordance with the will of James Smithson, who bequeathed the reversion of an estate amounting to 515,169 dollars to the United States of America, to be devoted to ‘the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.’ He was an Englishman, a natural son of Hugh, third Duke of Northumberland, and Mrs. Elizabeth Macie, a niece of Charles, Duke of Somerset. He devoted his life to scientific pursuits, especially to chemistry, and died at Genoa in 1829. The Institute is governed by regents appointed by the Federal government, and has erected a spacious edifice, with museum, library, cabinets of natural history, and lecture-rooms, which occupies a prominent situation at Washington, the capital of the United States. It receives copies of all copyright books, and exchanges with other countries, and its museum is enriched with the gatherings of national exploring expeditions. A portion of its funds is devoted to scientific researches, and the publication of works too expensive for private enterprise. There are departments of Astronomy, Ethnology, Meteorology, and Terrestrial Magnetism. See James Smithson and his Bequest, by Rhees (1881). Among the publications issued are the quarto volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, distributed gratis to libraries; Annual Reports, and Miscellaneous Collections. The courses of public lectures by eminent scientific men are among the attractions of the American capital.