The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-01
sM1rHsoN1AN INSTITUTION AT WARRINGTON D. c.
BY GILBERT n. GR0SvENOR.


| WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
James Smithson. the founder OF the
| Smithsonian institution. is about to be
| turned ont OF his grave. in Genoa. Italy. 10
make room for a quarry.
The BIRTH life and death OF this great
benefactor of mankind were for him one
series of misfortunes. and now even his
resting place is TO be destroyed
AS the Legitimate son of Duke and a
noble lady who was the descendant OF
Kings. he came into the world unwelcomed:
| his life was embittered and blighted by the
thought OF his tainted BIRTH he died in
Genoa-he never had a home-wthout a
single kinsmap beside his deathbed.
His grave was dug In city far from his
native land, and now his bones must be
turned out Of his grave in order that the
city may get stone for its harbor works.
Smithson felt the evil fate that pursued
him. and for that reason chose the United
States to carry out his grand plan for the
increase and diffusion of knowledge among
men.
At any rate his trustee has faithfully pro-
tected his plan from all misfortune and
made his name known to all quarters OF
the globe.
James Smithson was never reticent about
the facts OF his birth. He commences his
will with the declaration that
Il. James Smithson. son TO Hugh. first
Duke of Northumberland. and Elizabeth.
heiress of the Hungerfords of Studley and
niece to Charles the Proud. Duke of Somer-
set"
The best blood Of England flowed in his
veins-the blood OF the Percys and Sey-
mours. two OF the most illustrious historical
names of the British Islands. His mother
was a lineal descendant of Henry VII.
His half-hrother. a legitimate son of his
father, was that Lord Percy who led the
force which rescued the British troops at
Lexington and Concord and who later car
ried the dispatches to the English Govern
ment in London telling of the fight at
Bunker HILL in which he also had taken
part.
Lord Percy. as well a. his father. tho
Duke. appreciated better than any other
Englishman the temper and ability Of tho
Americans.
LITTLE KNOWN OF HIS LIFE
Beyond a few facts We know comparative
ly little about smithson's life. He was born
In 11S5. his mother being the widow Of
James Macie.
Under-las mothers name of Macie he en-
tered Pembroke College. Oxford. from which
he received the degree of NJ. A. IN 17s6. the
year of his fathers death. At the age Of %
he became a fellow OF the Royal Society.
among his sponsors being the physicist Cav
endish.
His researches and publications relating to
chemistry were many during the succeeding
years and showed much ability. All the
noted men CT science OF the time were his
friends-Arago. Cavendish. Wollaston and
others
About 1925 he obtained permission from
the Crown to use his fathers name OF
Smithson-why, we do not know
Much OF his life was passed on the Con-
tinent OF Europe. mainly in Paris probably
to escape the stigma OF his birth. From
one contemporary we learn that he was a
great devotee of games of chance and d.
rided his time most methodically between
profound studies and the gaming table.
Where did Smithson get his money?
This is natural question. but It is not
easily answered. His fathers yearly in
come was about s2500O0. from which,
doubtless. the Duke made him an allow
ance. A daughter Of his father left hin, n
legacy of $1,000 in 1874. but the bulk of his
wealth came from his mother and her son
by her first marriage. Colonel Henry Louis
Dickinson.
James Smithson died at Genoa IN 1879.
His father and his half-brother had been
buried In Westminster Abbey. each with
saea, pomp and spiendor. but there was
not single relative to cheer him in his
last sickness or to follow his coffin to the
grave in the small and isolated British
on the heights Of San Benigno
The cemetery where he has lain these
seventy-four years is under the care of tho
sriusn consul at Genoa. but the land be-
longs to the italian Government Near by
IS quarry. from which the city gets the
stone for its works
Much more stone is now needed for the
extensive harbor improvements which have
oeen begun. and hence all the graves in
he cemetery must be removed
BY the terms Of Smithson's will his es-
ate Of over half a million dollars was TO
20 to the United States OF America to
ound at Washington. under the name of
ne Smithsonian Institution. an establish
nent for the increase and diffusion
u knowledge among men," Five hun