James Smithson

“ In the case of the death of my said nephew without having a child or children, or of the death of the child or children he may have had under the age of twenty one years or intestate, I then bequeath the whole of my property subject to the annuity of one hundred pounds to John Fitall & for this security & payment of which I mean stock to remain in this country to the United States of American to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian institution, an establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men. ”