Smithson's Curious Bequest - June 27, 1829
Today in History, English Scientist, James Smithson, who lived in Genoa, Italy, died after a long illness. He had an interesting bequest. If his only nephew were to die, and if he didn't have any children, the whole estate belonging to Smithson was to go to the United States of America, in order 'to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge."
Six years after Smithson's death, his nephew died, and all the details were worked out for this large amount of money to be used to start the Smithsonian Institution.
Source: History.com-Smithsonian Institute Bequest
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