The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09
FOUNDED BY 1 rs TORY.
DenleS . Command In. the Revol1.
tien. He 0uft This Ceantry-Ca-
Feer ~ DenjaDia TAenpeen-ae
EstablisAea . seciety for Ia
creasing the Comforts 81 the Poor

Recently there was celebrated In London
the centenary OF the Royal institution.
which Is the leading institution OF the
world for the study OF practical science. II
should be OF interest to Americans that
this institution was founded by an Amert-
can, Benjamin Thompson. who Was born
in Woburn. Mass, in 1s5G His humble
origin did not promise for him great dis
tinct.on of any kind. He was educated at
the common schools and obtained some
knowledge OF mercantile business AZ Clerk
In a store at Salem. While thus employed
during the day he spent his nights In
studying mathematics. Later he began
the study of medicine in Woburn and at
tended lectures at Cambridge. Then his
attention was drawn to experimental phil
osophy and he attended a course Of lee
lures on that subject. Next he taught
school for q time. first In Bradford. Mass,
and afterwarl in Rumford now Concord).
n H. In this latter place he married and
through his marriage became possessed OF
ample means. This was in 111, time
when the fighting men Of New Hampshire
were being organized into regiments that
they might be ready TO take part In the
revolution then Impending. Cav. John
Wentworth. great-grandfather Of the late
John Wentworth. OF Chicago gave Benja-
min Thompson q commission OF major In
one OF the regiments The appointment OF
so young man was severely censured by
the majority until he was forced to de-
cline It and thereupon he developed some
tory sentiments. He did but little during
the war. and that little was done on the
side of the British. and when the war was
over he went to England. entered the civil
service there and rapidly rose to dist.nc-
ton, but after q number OF years. not get
ting what he thought he was entitled to by
way Of preferment. he res gned his offices
and went to the continent. On the contt-
nent he held. In one country and another.
several high positions. and at last Leopold
III. OF Germany made him count OF the
holy Roman empire. He chose Rumford
as his title, thus remembering the Rum
ford In New Hampshire, where he taught
school and was married.
The institution founded by Count RUM
ford was an offshoot Of q society for the
lettering OF the condition and increasing
the comforts of the poor. which was also
his creation. He got his ideas on the SUBJ
ject accepted by his associates. and the
next step was to circulate definite out
line among people who were thought likely
TO subscribe to the undertaking. and 50
successful was this appeal to the public
that fifty-eight of the most respectable
names" were obtained In a few weeks.
These original subscribers Of 50 guineas
each met and elected committee Of man.
ayers. who were desired to take prepara-
tory measures for opening the institution.
and in particular to solicit the king for the
grant OF a royal charter. which was obtain
ed early the next year. Less than two
months later the purchase was ordered OF
Mr.. Mellishs house in Aibemarle street.
His list OF the things to be shown III the
repositories indeed includes models Of
that most curious and most useful ma
chine. the steam engine" Of ventilators.
lime kilns. spinning wheels and looms. ag-