Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Name	Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Founded	0 1850
Location	London
Key people	Prince Albert
Focus	Science, industry, arts

Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 is a perpetual charitable body established by a Royal Charter following the immense success of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Founded on the initiative of Prince Albert and key figures like Henry Cole, its original mandate was to utilize the exhibition's surplus profits for the enduring advancement of British industry. The Commission's enduring mission is to promote scientific and artistic education through prestigious awards, research grants, and the stewardship of a significant estate in South Kensington.

History and establishment

The Commission was formally constituted in 1850 under the presidency of Prince Albert to oversee the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park. The exhibition, housed in the Crystal Palace, was a monumental success, generating a substantial financial surplus. A subsequent Royal Charter granted in 1860 permanently established the Commission to administer these funds. Its founding members, including Henry Cole and Sir Robert Peel, directed the initial investment into purchasing an 87-acre estate in South Kensington. This land became the foundational site for what is now known as Albertopolis, a district dedicated to science and culture.

Role and responsibilities

The Commission's primary role is to award fellowships and grants to support advanced study and research in science, engineering, and the fine arts. It administers several long-standing programmes, most notably the 1851 Research Fellowship. A major historic responsibility was the strategic development of its South Kensington estate, facilitating the establishment of world-renowned institutions. The Commission collaborates closely with bodies like the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering in its selection processes. It also maintains the historic Royal Albert Hall and manages other properties through its estate.

Commissioners and governance

The Commission is composed of distinguished individuals appointed under its Royal Charter. The President is traditionally a senior member of the British royal family, often the monarch or the Prince of Wales. Day-to-day governance is managed by a board including a Chairman and several commissioners drawn from academia and industry. Notable past commissioners have included scientists like Lord Kelvin and architects such as Sir George Gilbert Scott. The secretariat is based at Sherfield Building on the Imperial College London campus.

Awards and funding programmes

Its flagship scheme is the 1851 Research Fellowship, a prestigious postdoctoral award for early-career scientists and engineers. Other significant programmes include the Industrial Fellowships scheme, conducted with partners like the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Design Fellowship in the fine arts. The Commission also funds special awards and projects, such as the Brunel International Lecture Series. Funding is derived from the careful investment of its original endowment and the ongoing revenue from its South Kensington estate.

Notable recipients and impact

Recipients of the Commission's awards have made transformative contributions across disciplines. Nobel laureates in physics and chemistry, including Ernest Rutherford, Peter Higgs, and John B. Goodenough, were early-career Research Fellows. In engineering, pioneers like Frank Whittle and Barnes Wallis were supported. The Commission's patronage of the arts has benefited figures such as sculptor Barbara Hepworth. Its funding and land were instrumental in founding institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, and Imperial College London.

Properties and estates

The Commission's most significant holding is the freehold of a large portion of the South Kensington estate, an area encompassing many major cultural and educational institutions. Key properties include the Royal Albert Hall, which is held in trust, and the land under institutions like the Natural History Museum and the Royal College of Music. The estate also includes residential properties, with rental income supporting the award programmes. The Commission's headquarters are located within the Sherfield Building at Imperial College London.

Category:Organisations based in London Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom