The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the `` increase and diffusion '' of knowledge by a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson ( 1765 â `` 1829 ) , who had never visited the United States himself . The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the `` increase and diffusion of knowledge '' from a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson ( 1765 â `` 1829 ) , who never visited the new nation .