THE 



ROYAL INSTITUTION 



CHAPTEK I. 



LIFE OF RUMFORD BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF 

 THE INSTITUTION. 



1753 to 1799. 



AT Charlestown, Massachusetts, in t'ae .year 1G30, 



\ * i * t * - 1 * \ 



James Thompson was among Wintnrop's company! " He 

 settled about ten miles inland, and the place was called 

 Woburn. In 1752 Benjamin Thompson was there with 

 his father, Captain Ebenezer Thompson, and he married 

 Ruth Simonds, of that place. Their child, the future 

 Count Eumford, was born in his grandfather's farm- 

 house, on March 26, 1753. The house is still to be 

 seen near the meeting-house in North Woburn. When 

 the child was a year old his father died, and when he 

 was three years old his mother married again. 'To 

 the close of her life Rumford wrote to her full of 

 affection, and by the munificent provision which he 

 made for her he showed his tender, grateful regard for 

 her.' 



