The founding of the Smithsonian Institute – Raymond Stern

Speaker: Raymond Stern has practiced and taught architecture, design, and history in Europe, South-East Asia, the US and Canada

Synopsis: The Smithsonian Institution eventually grew into the largest museum and research complex in the world. James Smithson who never set foot in the US, was the bastard son of the notorious Duke of Northumberland. A talented chemist Smithson became the youngest member of Britain’s Royal Society. This is a remarkable personal story of a shadowy figure, of a non-functional family, of a fluke of quirky estate planning, of a man at the centre of the English Enlightenment, and the creation of America’s greatest museum born out of English aristocracy.
Please note 4th International Wednesday lecture.

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