 Macie's controversy had a very positive effect on American science
and history, though.
As a scientist, he conducted research in mineralogy, geology and
chemistry. His work on calamines, which he presented to England's
Royal Society, resulted in having a carbonate of zinc renamed in his
honor, back in 1832. But there is something else far more important
and more recognizable that is named in his honor.
First, it might help if you know something about his family
background.
James Lewis Macie was born to Sir Hugh Smithson and Elizabeth
Keate in Paris in 1765. His parents were not married -- well, not to
each other anyway. Elizabeth was married to a man named James Macie.
The scientist changed his birth name to his biological father's
last name of Smithson when his mother died. The carbonate of zinc
that is renamed in his honor is known as smithsonite.
But smithsonite is not James Smithson's main contribution to the
world of science and history here in America. The more prominent
contribution here also bears his name -- even though he never once
stepped foot in America.
It is the Smithsonian Institution.
James Smithson bequeathed 11 boxes of gold sovereigns (coins)
worth $508,318 to the United States to form what became the
Smithsonian Institution. There was a catch, though.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Smithson, who had no children of his own, bequeathed the money to
his nephew, Henry Hungerford Dickerson, on the condition that if the
nephew didn't have any children, he was to donate the money "to the
United States of America, to found at Washington an establishment
for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." If his
nephew had any children, then the money would go to them.
Smithson's nephew died without heirs in 1835, and Congress
accepted the gift the following year. A lawsuit in England followed,
but the British court ruled that the money should go to America as
Smithson had requested. After eight years of debate in Congress over
what the Smithsonian should be, the Smithsonian Institution was
formed in 1846.
When Smithson died in 1829, he was buried in Genoa, Italy.
Alexander Graham Bell, who was the Smithsonian's regent in 1904,
brought his body to America and had him entombed in the Smithsonian
Building.
Today the Smithsonian Institution, which is the world's largest
museum complex, consists of 16 museums, plus a number of research
centers and libraries.
So why would James Smithson, a man who had never been to America
and had no known connections to America, leave his fortune to
America to build the Smithsonian?
To this day, it remains a mystery. No one, other than James
Smithson himself, knew why. I guess you could say that the answer
lies somewhere in the Smithsonian.
[By
PAUL NIEMANN]
Paul Niemann's column has appeared in
more than 80 newspapers and counting. He is the author of the
"Invention Mysteries" series of books and can be reached at
niemann7@aol.com.
Copyright Paul Niemann 2009
(Other
columns) |
