What is the Smithsonian Institute? Although the Smithsonian is quintessentially American, the benefactor of this Institution never visited the States.  In his will, a British Scientist called James Smithson (1765 – 1829) left his estate to his nephew, Henry James Hungerford. Smithson stipulated that if Hungerford died without heirs, the estate was to go to the Government of the USA for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men”. Hungerford died in 1835, with no heirs and the Smithson bequest was announced in Congress by President Andrew Jackson.  It amounted to $500,000 which is around $10, 200,000 today.  Eight years…

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