Talk:James Smithson
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Most of this article has been copied verbatim from the Smithsonian website.
84.68.142.181 19:13, 4 January 2006 (UTC)
- Specific sentences and url please? The facts are the same (as they should be), but the wording I see in the given external link is completely different. Stan 22:17, 4 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Note
"...under the name of the Smithsonian Institution"
The above words are quoted from the article. I am convinced that the statement is incorrect because I know Matthew Fontaine Maury, superintendent of the National/ Naval Observatory was trying to get some of the funds for the Observatory. I am sure other groups or individuals were doing the same. How could they IF Smithson used the words, " under the name of the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE"?
He had stated that the funds go towards "an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."
Smithson did not, IMHO, declare that his name be included in any manner in his deed.
--Maury 19:42, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Photo of James Smithson Statue
In this article there is a photo of a statue, identifying it as that of James Smithson. In the article on the Smithsonian Institution Building, the same statue is identified as that of Joseph Henry, the first secretary of the Institution. Both photos can not be correct. 75.139.135.155 07:40, 20 June 2007 (UTC)
- Thanks for pointing that out. I realized the problem, but did not have time to remove the images yesterday. I have now done so. The problem is that there is a Wikimedia Commons photograph, "Commons:Image:Smithson.jpg", which says the statue is of James Smithson, while a different photograph of the same statue in the English Wikipedia, "Image:The Smithsonian Dude.jpg", says that it is a statue of Joseph Henry. I have highlighted the problem to administrators at Wikimedia Commons (see "Commons:Administrators' noticeboard#Same statue, different attribution"), but don't think it will be resolved until someone who has seen the inscription on the statue corrects the information. Cheers, Jacklee 10:02, 20 June 2007 (UTC)
- I've removed the image from the article. It can be replaced if the statue is eventually identified to be of James Smithson (which seems rather unlikely). Cheers, Jacklee 00:19, 2 August 2007 (UTC)
- Thanks very much. I've re-uploaded the image formerly known as "Smithson.jpg" under the name "JosephHenry-SmithsonianCastle-20051108.jpg" and have updated its description. I've also transferred "The Smithsonian Dude.jpg" from the English Wikipedia to the Commons under the name "JosephHenry-SmithsonianCastle-20050517.jpg". — Cheers, JackLee –talk– 23:58, 20 November 2007 (UTC)
