In Smithson's will, he stated that should his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, die without heirs, the Smithson estate would go to the government of the United States for creating an "Establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men".
In his will, Smithson said that if his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, dies with no heirs, the Smithson estate would go to the United States government. This was to create an "Establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men".