James Smithson (1765-1829) was a British chemist and mineralogist whose bequest founded the Smithsonian Institution. Born in Paris as the illegitimate son of the first Duke of Northumberland and Elizabeth Hungerford Keate Macie, he was raised in England and known as James Louis Macie until he took the name Smithson in 1801. He studied at Pembroke College, Oxford, became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1787, and published twenty-seven papers, the best known analyzing zinc ores, which led to the mineral smithsonite being named for him. He died in Genoa in 1829. His will left his estate, after his nephew, to the United States to found in Washington an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.
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Rolechemist and mineralogist 1 Role
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Source James Smithson (source article)Entry headerQuote, Entry header
b. Paris, France, 1765
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1. James Smithson (source article)
Biography, second paragraph
attracted to the study of chemistry and mineralogy
Biography, first paragraph
Smithson was the illegitimate son of Hugh Smithson Percy, first duke of Northumberland
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b. Paris, France, 1765
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d. Genoa, Italy, 27 June 1829
In Era: The Late Modern Period, Biography, second paragraph [in-era]
On 7 May 1782 he entered Pembroke College, Oxford
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