Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 facts for kids
The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 is a special group started in 1850. Its main job was to help run a huge show called the Great Exhibition in The Crystal Palace, London. This big event showed off amazing new inventions and art from all over the world.
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Queen Victoria's husband, was the first leader of the Commission. Henry Cole was its main manager. Today, Anne, Princess Royal is the President.
The Great Exhibition was a huge success, both with visitors and financially. It made a profit of about £186,000. Instead of closing down, the Royal Commission decided to stay open forever. They wanted to use the money for good causes. Their new goal was to "increase ways to learn about industry, and spread the influence of science and art on how things are made."
Building a Hub for Learning
The Commission used the money from the 1851 Exhibition to buy a large piece of land, about 86 acres, in South Kensington, London. They turned this area into a famous center for learning and culture. It is sometimes called "Albertopolis" after Prince Albert.
Some of the well-known places built there include:
- Imperial College
- the Natural History Museum
- the Royal Albert Hall
- the Royal College of Art
- the Royal College of Music
- the Science Museum
- the Victoria and Albert Museum
The Commission's main office is located inside Imperial College.
Since 1891, the Commission has focused on giving special grants to students. These grants help students study at universities in Britain and other countries after their first degree. Many famous people have received these grants, including 13 people who later won the Nobel Prize.
Today, the Commission has more than £76 million in money and property. It gives over £2 million each year to support good causes.
See also
- 1851 Research Fellowship
