The man who founded America's largest museum never once visited the country

Nature · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: James Smithson was a nomadic chemist and mineralogist who spent his life traveling across Europe, yet his legacy is anchored in the heart of Washington, D.C. He never set foot in the United States, but his final will created a permanent home for the world's knowledge.

Born in Paris around 1765 as the illegitimate son of the 1st Duke of Northumberland, James Smithson lived a life of constant movement and scientific rigor. Originally named Jacques-Louis Macie, he naturalized as a British citizen as a child and later adopted the Smithson surname in 1800. A dedicated chemist and mineralogist, he was recognized by the Royal Society of London in 1787—an extraordinary honor for someone so young. His work was defined by a commitment to discovering basic elements, often braving harsh elements and forgoing upper-class comforts to collect mineral and ore samples across Europe.

Smithson's life was marked by significant upheaval, including being a prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars. He was held in Tönning and later Hamburg before being released through the influence of Sir Joseph Banks. Despite his wealth, he remained a nomad, never marrying or having children. This lack of direct heirs led to a unique legal journey for his estate. In 1826, he drafted a will stipulating that if his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, died without an heir, his fortune should be used to create an establishment for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge" in Washington, D.C.

The bequest did not reach the United States until 1838, following the death of his nephew in 1835. After a legal battle in London, attorney Richard Rush transported the estate's funds and personal effects to America. This sparked intense congressional debates over the institution's purpose, with some envisioning a university and others a research center. Ultimately, a 1846 act established the Smithsonian Institution as a hybrid of a library, museum, and observatory. Today, the institution manages a budget of over $1 billion and houses a vast collection, including over 4 million fossils and 4.5 million plant specimens, all rooted in the vision of a man who never saw the land he transformed.

The Smithsonian's growth reflects Smithson's scientific interests, expanding to include a science center in 1881 and a national zoo in 1891. While the original building, known as the Castle, was completed in 1855, the institution has since grown into a complex of 19 museums and 14 research centers. Smithson's remains were eventually reburied in the Castle in 1903, finally bringing the man to the land his name now defines.

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