Royal Institution
![The Royal Institution building on [[Albemarle Street|Albemarle Street]], London, {{circa|1838}}](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Royal_Institution_Shepherd_TH.jpg)
The
Royal Institution of Great Britain (often the
Royal Institution,
Ri or
RI) is an organisation for scientific education and research, based in the
City of Westminster. It was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, including
Henry Cavendish and its first president,
George Finch. Its foundational principles were diffusing the knowledge of, and facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements, as well as enhancing the application of science to the common purposes of life (including through teaching, courses of philosophical lectures, and experiments).
Much of the Institution's initial funding and the initial proposal for its founding were given by the Society for Bettering the Conditions and Improving the Comforts of the Poor, under the guidance of philanthropist
Sir Thomas Bernard and American-born British scientist Sir
Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford. Since its founding it has been based at 21
Albemarle Street in
Mayfair. Its
Royal Charter was granted in 1800.
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