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Benjamin Thompson's cradle, exhibted within the house.
Statue of Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) outside the library of his hometown, Woburn, Massachusetts. (A copy of the original in Munich.)
Benjamin Thompson House, also known as the Count Rumford Birthplace, located at 90 Elm Street, in the North Woburn area of Woburn, Massachusetts, is the birthplace of scientist and inventor Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814), who became Count Rumford of the Holy Roman Empire as well as Sir Benjamin Thompson of the United Kingdom It is on both the List of National Historic Landmarks and the List of National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] History
Benjamin Thompson (Jr.), later to become Count Rumford, was born on March 26, 1753, in the west end of this house which had been built by his grandfather, Captain Ebenezer Thompson and in which his parents had lived since their marriage. Young Benjamin's father died on November 7, 1754, and he stayed on in the house with his grandfather and his mother until she married Josiah Pierce, Jr., of Woburn and he was taken to live in his house.[2]
[edit] National Register listing
- Rumford, Count, Birthplace
- (added 1975 - Building - #75001942)
- Also known as Rumford House
- 90 Elm St., Woburn
- Historic Significance: Person
- Historic Person: Rumford,Count Benjamin Thompson
- Significant Year: 1770, 1753
- Area of Significance: Science
- Period of Significance: 1750-1799
- Owner: Private
- Historic Function: Domestic
- Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling
- Current Function: Domestic, Recreation And Culture
- Current Sub-function: Museum, Single Dwelling
[edit] Current ownership
The birthplace of Benjamin Thompson is now owned by the Rumford Historical Association founded in 1877 to maintain it as a site of historic interest. In its museum are reconstructed models of Count Rumford’s scientific experiments and inventions. A copy of a portrait of Count Rumford by Gainsborough is on display. The house also has a library of Rumford biographies and essays. It is open several afternoons a week. Admission is free.[3]
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