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Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for Somerset, Ky. (Kentucky, United States) or search for Somerset, Ky. (Kentucky, United States) in all documents.
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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Smithson , James Lewis Macie -1835 (search)
Smithson, James Lewis Macie -1835
Philanthropist; place and date of birth not positively known, some authorities giving England about 1754, and others France in 1765.
At the commencement of his will, he wrote: I, James Smithson, son of Hugh, third Duke of Northumberland, and Elizabeth, heiress of the Hungerfords of Audley, and niece to Charles, the proud Duke of Somerset, without giving the date of his nativity.
He took his degree at Oxford University (1786) under the surname of Macie, but between 1791 and 1803 he adopted the family name of Smithson.
He was distinguished at the university as a chemist; became the associate of the leading scientists of the day; and was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1787, to the Transactions of which he contributed eight papers.
At his death, in Genoa, Italy, June 27, 1829, he left about 200 manuscripts, which seemed to be chiefly portions of a philosophical dictionary.
In his will, dated Oct. 23, 1826, he bequeathed to his nephew the