London Institution

It was agreed that the motto of the Institution would be Studio fallente laborem and that its purpose would be to procure "the advancement of literature and the diffusion of useful knowledge".

Before any action needed to be taken, he died in September 1808 shortly after a fit of 'apoplexy' in the street that had led to him being anonymously committed to St Martin's Lane workhouse.

During the years 1806–11 more than £36,000 was spent on books and equipment and it was reported in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1811 that the Institution had collected ..."at a large expense, some of the rarest and most splendid specimens of Typography in the kingdom.

"[4] Many of those who supported the idea of such an educational institution for London were fellow Dissenters who were forbidden to attend Oxford or Cambridge universities because of their religious beliefs.

This soon proved to be inadequate to cope with the Institution's rapid growth and so plans were made to move to purpose-built accommodation at Finsbury Circus.

The architect of the elegant stone structure was William Brooks and the contract to build it was awarded to Thomas Cubitt, it being his first large-scale project in London.

The popular interest being taken in all forms of scientific advance, together with the quickening pace of the industrial revolution, ensured there was a strong demand for the Institution's resources and there was no shortage of subscribers.

The Gentleman's Magazine reported The library came to hold over 70,000 volumes and was particularly rich in topographical works, collected while William Upcott was librarian.

In 1908, the Board of Management announced that costly repairs to the buildings were required and in 1909 the Institution came under the purview of the Royal Commission on University Education in London.