The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) was a university based in the centre of the city of Manchester in England. It specialised in technical and scientific subjects and was a major centre for research. On 1 October 2004, it amalgamated with the Victoria University of Manchester (commonly called the University of Manchester) to produce a new entity called the University of Manchester. UMIST gained its royal charter in 1956 and became a fully autonomous university in 1994. Previously its degrees were awarded by the Victoria University of Manchester. The UMIST motto was Scientia et Labore (By Knowledge and Work). Manchester Mechanics' Institute (1824–1882) The foundation of UMIST can be traced to 1824 during the Industrial Revolution when a group of Manchester businessmen and industrialists met in a public house, the Bridgewater Arms, to establish the Mechanics' Institute in Manchester, where artisans could learn basic science, particularly mechanics and chemistry. Hundreds of such institutions were founded in towns and cities throughout the country and while many of the fine Victorian buildings built to house them remain, Manchester's alone survived as an independent institution serving some of its original educational aims throughout the 20th century. The meeting, convened by George William Wood on 7 April 1824, was attended by prominent members of the science and engineering community, including: John Dalton, who became known as the "father of atomic theory" and was vice-president of the institute from 1839 to 1841 Robert Hyde Greg, a cotton mill owner who was soon to be elected a member of parliament Peter Ewart, a millwright and engineer Richard Roberts a machine tools inventor David Bellhouse, a builder William Henry, a pioneer in the scientific chemical industry, discovered Henry's law of solubility of gas in water William Fairbairn, a Scottish engineer associated with water wheels and the Britannia tubular bridge but above all with a scientific approach to engineering. He was elected first secretary of the Mechanics' Institute Sir Benjamin Heywood, a prosperous banker, acted as president of the Mechanics' Institute from 1824 to 1841; his son, Oliver subsequently became president. A committee was elected to realise the planned institution, including Wood, Fairbairn, Heywood, Roberts and John Davies and the institute opened in 1825 with Heywood as chairman. However, the institute's intentions were paternal and no democratic control by its students was intended. In 1829, radical Rowland Detrosier led a breakaway group to form