Evening star., 1925-08-23
SM|THSON, BR|TON,
GAVE INSTITUTION
Money for Research First
Donated Royal Academy,
Then Withdrawn.


day probably were unaware that day
marked its seventy-ninth birthday. 1t
is almost certain that few i'll the
throng realized that the vast build
ings that make up the institution is a
monument to a man who never saw
the United States, one who had no
friend or correspondent in this coun-
try-an alien.
To add to the puzzle is the fact that
the money that made Smithsonian
Institution possible in Washington
was at one time left to the Royal
Academy for the erection of d similar
institution in London and but Tor the
rejection of a scientific paper the
Smithsonian Institution would proba-
bly, be British organization. For
James Smithsonian was a Briton, al
though he foresook England when he
was graduated from oxford with high
honors. SO far as known he never set
his foot on his native land again. lie
died in Paris, was buried in Geneva
and later his body was brought to
America and reposes in the mauSo-
leum in the institution that bears his
name.
Son of a Duke.
Smithson is the family name of one
of the Dukes of northumberland and
was not used by the donor of Smith
sonian Institution until he had left
oxford and the then Duke of North
umberland had died. For Smithson,
according to papers found in his ef-
fects after his death, was the son Of
Hugh Smithson, who later became
L., 4,
marriage with Lady Elizabeth Sey-
mour. These roles showed that the
youth was the son of Hugh Smithson
and Elizabeth Macie, the latter sec
ond cousin Of the woman who married
James father.
On the books of Pembroke College.
Oxford the boy was enrolled as
James Louis Macie and ne retained
that name throughout his college
days. His beclouded birth apparently
cut deeply, so much so that he felt he
could no longer reside in England
when he had reached his ma jority.
Having decided 10 enter upon the life
of d scientist. he left London the year
he was, graduated and made his head
quarters in Paris. although much of
his life was pa sSed on the continent.
lie, however, kept in touch with
British scientists throughout the
member. He was d friend of Watts.
and an intimate of Thorwaldsen. His
many achievements in the scientific
world are recorded in Britain. He
specialized in seeking the hidden val
ueS of flowers and vegetables. He
carried a portable laboratory, one of
the first seen on the continent. and
one of his earliest. achievements was
recalled when the news of his death
reached London.
DIR. Wollaston then was regarded
the peer of all in the making of
analysis OF small quantities, and it
may have been that Smithson had
aimed to surpass him. AT any rate,
the report read in London at the time
of his death told of how Smithson on
his travels had come upon a woman
in tears. Catching one of the tear
drops in a crystal vessel" says the
report, ''he analyzed il and found il
contained what was then called mico-
cosmic salt, with muriate of soda and
three more saline substances" The
scientists at once ranked him next TO
WCllaSton.
Distant TO Women.
His beclouded birth rendered Smith
son, who was of most sensitive ma
ture, distant to women. lie enter
tanned scientists in his Paris home,
but never entered society. He had
huge painting of the Duke of
Northumberland in his Paris home.
his carriage and plate carried the
arms of the Northumberlands and the
fact that he was permitted TO do SO
was taken to indicate that the rela-
tiveS of his father were on good terms
with Smithson. Whether the money
which enabled Smithson TO lead the
life of a gentleman came from the
Northumberlands or the Macies is not
known. He was always in funds and
a free Spender.
Twice his mother is mentioned in
the papers and in records Of Smith
sons life. The first place is where
in moment of bitterness he de-
clared THE best blood of England
flows in my veins. On my fathers
side I am a Northumberland. On my
mothers side L am related to>lzings,
but II avails me not. My name shall
live when the titles of the North
umberlands and the Percys are for
gotten" Again in the opening of his
will he says, "I, James Smithson, son
of the Duke of Northumberland and
Elizabeth Macie. heiress of the
Charles, the Proud, Duke of Somer-
set, etc."
Gets Fortune From Her.
A half brother, who also bore the
bar sinister, was Col. Henry Louis
Dickinson of the Saith Regiment. He
was on good terms with Smithson, so
much SO that when Dickinson died he
left his fortune to Smithson. Where
Dickinson got his money was not
known, but as he was on intimate
terms with the nobility it was not
hard for the sages of that day to
determine. Dickinson was the father
of Henry Louis Hungerford, also Of
beclouded birth, but the boy was
disinherited by Dickinson. Smithson,
however, made up for that and when
his will was opened 1t was found that
all of Smithson's estate was left to
young Hungerford, his nephew.
The second paragraph of the will,
which had been changed to exclude
the Royal Academy, read that in the
event of Hungerford's death without
issue the entire fortune was to pass
to the United States of America to
found at Washington, under the name
of the Smithsonian Institute, an in
stitution for the increase and diffu-
sion Of the knowledge of men,"
Smithson died in 1929 and was bur-
led in Genoa. His heirs death fol-
lowed a short time later and after
years of litigation in the British
courts the United States won its fight
and the Srnithson fortune of s508, 900
was turned over to 1t. Whether the
money originally came from the
Northumberland or the Hungerfords
is not known. but at the time the
amount was regarded as a vast for.
tune and the fact that the ROYAL
Academy had offended Smithson
caused much comment in London.