Interesting Facts – Born in France and raised in England, chemist James Smithson (1765–1829) was well traveled, spending significant chapters of his life in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.

According to his will, he also gave much thought to transatlantic affairs in America, a destination that eluded him during his lifetime. He inherited a substantial sum from his mother (although not from his father, the Duke of Northumberland, because he’d been born out of wedlock), which he invested in emerging technologies such as canals and steam engines. Continue reading →