Melodrama at the Smithsonian

James studied at the University of Oxford, where he gravitated to chemistry and mineralogy. Soon after graduation, he was invited to join the Royal Society, England’s premier scientific organization; for a young man of 22, it was as astonishing honor.

As an adult, James spent much of his time in Europe, hanging out with scientists from many countries. But minerals were his first love. He thought nothing of climbing down into mines or trekking up and down volcanoes to collect new specimens. One innkeeper charged him extra for the mess of “stones and dirt” he left behind.