17. James Smithson
One of the most influential leaders in American history wasn’t an American at all. He was a British scientist who left his estate to his nephew, James Hungerford, who in turn left it to the United States to establish the Smithsonian Institution, “an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men”. The original endowment was worth about $11 million today. Today’s collection held by the Smithsonian includes over 154 million items, and it operates nine research centers, 19 museums, the National Zoo, and has over 200 affiliate museums and centers in 46 states, all dedicated to Smithson’s stated purpose of increasing and spreading knowledge around the world.