Which institution was founded in 1846 from James Smithson’s bequest to increase and diffuse knowledge?

The institution founded in 1846 from James Smithson’s bequest to increase and diffuse knowledge is the Smithsonian Institution.

James Smithson was a British scientist who died in 1829. His will directed that his estate should go to the United States to establish an institution at Washington for the “increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” Smithson had never visited the United States, but his bequest ultimately created one of the country’s most important scientific and cultural organizations.

The United States received the bequest in 1838 after diplomat Richard Rush returned from Britain with 105 sacks containing 104,960 gold sovereigns. Congress debated for years about how to use the money. President James K. Polk signed the legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution on August 10, 1846.

The Smithsonian is not simply one museum. It is a group of museums, research centers, educational programs, and collections. Its Washington, D.C., buildings include the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution Building, commonly called the Castle.