ABSTRACT
In 1798, the American-born scientist and statesman, Sir Benjamin Thompson, otherwise known as Count Rumford, found himself temporarily jobless. Accused of spying, he fled from America and came to London where he took out British citizenship. Later he became the Elector of Bavaria's principal advisor and head of his military services. He had been sent to London as the Elector's Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of St James. But King George in refused to accept one of his own citizens as a foreign minister. Under the circumstances, Rumford set about devising plans to create the Royal Institution of Great Britain, which, with the support of the President of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks, he founded in 1799
... for diffusing and facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements and for teaching by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life.
