Graphical timeline from Smithson to Smithsonian
From Smithson to Smithsonian - The Birth of an InstitutionAll-American Compromise

Introduction
Who Was James Smithson?
Sccepting Smithson's Gift
All-American Compromise
The Smithsonian Building
An Institution Emerges
A National Collection
Smithson's Legacy

John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams

ZoomEnlargement
A National Observatory?

Believing that Smithson's bequest posed a great opportunity to advance American science, John Quincy Adams introduced legislation to use the Smithson fund for a national observatory.

"There is no richer field of science opened to the exploration of man in search of knowledge than astronomical observation."
—Representative John Quincy Adams
(Massachusetts), March 5, 1840


Portsmouth Journal
Portsmouth Journal

ZoomEnlargement
Transcript Portsmouth Journal ,
March 28, 1840

Back4 of 6Next

~ back ~ next ~

-----

Site Index Home Help Bibliography Other Resources Credits & Copyright
~ site index ~ home ~ help ~ bibliography ~ other resources ~ credits & copyright ~