{"product_id":"the-science-of-james-smithson-steven-turner-9781588346902","title":"The Science of James Smithson: Discoveries from the Smithsonian Founder","description":"\u003cb\u003eAccessible exploration of the noteworthy scientific career of James Smithson, who left his fortune to establish the Smithsonian Institution. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJames Smithson is best known as the founder of the Smithsonian Institution, but few people know his full and fascinating story. He was a widely respected chemist and mineralogist and a member of the Royal Society, but in 1865, his letters, collection of 10,000 minerals, and more than 200 unpublished papers were lost to a fire in the Smithsonian Castle. His scientific legacy was further written off as insignificant in an 1879 essay published through the Smithsonian fifty years after his death--a claim that author Steven Turner demonstrates is far from the truth. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBy providing scientific and intellectual context to his work, \u003ci\u003eThe Science of James Smithson\u003c\/i\u003e is a comprehensive tribute to Smithson's contributions to his fields, including chemistry, mineralogy, and more. This detailed narrative illuminates Smithson and his quest for knowledge at a time when chemists still debated thing as basic as the nature of fire, and struggled to maintain their networks amid the ever-changing conditions of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Steven Turner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1588346900\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781588346902\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Smithsonian Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/03\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.00w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/15\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/01\/2020 pg. 105\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/09\/2020","brand":"Steven Turner","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44966400688383,"sku":"9781588346902","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6be59649-41ea-459c-90d8-addebc164767.jpg?v=1711159742","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-science-of-james-smithson-steven-turner-9781588346902","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}