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".
Smithson's will said if his nephew didn't have children, his estate would go to the US government. His goal was to create an "Establishment for the increase & diffusion of Knowledge among men."