THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



By Ed. Mailly. 



[translated by C. a. ALEXANDER FOR IHE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.*] 



I. — COUXT KUMFORD, PRLNCIPAL FOUXDER OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 



'^ The Iloyal Institution of London," says Cnvier, in his FAoge Jiistorique of 

 Count Runiford, "enjoys an unsurpassed reputation as an establishment for pro- 

 moting the progress of the sciences and their application to public utility." In 

 proceeding to give some account of the Institution, it is deemed proper to prefix 

 a few words respecting the distinguished man to whom it was chiefly indebted 

 for its origin. 



Benjamin Thompson, afterwards known as Count Rumford, was born in 1753, 

 in the English colonies of North America, at a place then called Rumford, but 

 now Concord. Devoted at an early age to the study of science, he adopted the 

 profession of teacher for a livelihood, but, by an advantageous mamage, when 

 scarcely more than 19 years old, he secured for himself entire independence in 

 his pursuits. He had accepted the grade of major in the militia of his native 

 province when the war of the Revolution broke out, and was led by the connec- 

 tions of family and personal predilection to take the part of the royal govern- 

 ment. He served with courage and address, and after the evacuation of Boston 

 by the British troops in 1776, was sent with important despatches to London, 

 where he acquired the confidence of Lord George Germaine, secretary of state 

 for the colonics, and was by him attached to that department of the public ser- 

 vice. In 1780, Mr. Thompson was advanced to the post of under-secretary of 

 state, but the disasters of the royal army, the constant object of his solicitude and 

 activity, continuing to accumulate, the young minister "felt that he could not 

 serve with honor a sinking cause, without serving it at the peril of his life." t 

 Having raised a regiment of dragoons in America, he proceeded to take command 

 of it and distinguished himself in several aflairs. At the cessation of hostilities, 

 he returned to England and was knighted by the King, eventually obtaining 

 permission to enter the service of Charles Theodore, elector of Bavaria, by whom 

 he was soon received into favor. 



Sir Benjamin Thompson (which was the title he bore on his anival at Munich, 

 in 1784:) became successively aide-de-camp, chamberlain, and privy councillor 

 to the elector ; was created lieutenant general of his armies ; and when, on the 

 death of the Emperor Joseph II, Charles Theodore was called to the functions 

 of vicar of the empire, the latter promptly took advantage of the prerogative 

 attached to that position to advance his favorite to the dignity of Count, giving 

 him the title of his native village in New Hampshire. 



Count Rumford passed 14 j^ears at the court of Munich ; charged at once with 



* From the Annuaire de I' Observatoire Royal de BruxeUes, par A. Quetelet, directeur de cet 

 Stablissement, Sfc., Sfc. 

 t G. Cuvier, ^logc Historique du Comte de Rumford. 



