Royal Institution 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. Throughout its history, the Institution has supported public engagement with science through a programme of lectures, many of which continue today. The most famous of these are the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, founded by Michael Faraday. The Royal Institution was founded as the
Humphrey Edwardes-Jones Humphrey Edwardes-Jones Air Marshal Sir John Humphrey Edwardes-Jones, (15 August 1905 – 19 January 1987) was a senior Royal Air Force commander. Educated at Brighton College and Pembroke College, Cambridge, Edwardes-Jones joined the Royal Air Force in 1925. He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 213 Squadron in 1937 and in that role advised the Air Ministry on the air operability of the Spitfire. He served in the Second World War in that capacity and then as Officer Commanding No. 17 Squadron before leading a series of training units. He continued his war service as Officer Commanding Exeter Sector and then