June 29th 2024.
Meet Jeremy Bentham, an eccentric 19th century philosopher and social reformer who had a rather unique post-mortem plan. Instead of the traditional burial, Bentham wanted his body to be preserved and put on display for his friends to visit after his passing. It may sound a bit morbid, but for Bentham, it was a way for his friends to keep his memory alive.
Born in Spitalfields, London in 1748, Bentham showed signs of brilliance from a young age. He was a child prodigy, mastering Latin at a young age and attending Oxford University at just 12 years old. However, despite his father's wishes for him to become a lawyer, Bentham's true passion lay in advocating for social change.
He dedicated his life to fighting for causes such as prison reform, free education, and a minimum wage. And although these were noble causes, we're not here to discuss them today. We're here to talk about Bentham's unique afterlife plan - the 'Auto-Icon'.
Bentham's Auto-Icon remains on display at the University College London (UCL), which he is considered the 'spiritual founder' of. It was his wish that after his passing, his body would be dissected and preserved so that his friends could visit him at dinner parties. While this may sound like a legend, it is actually true. However, contrary to popular belief, Bentham's body is not actually 'stuffed'. Instead, what we see today is his embalmed skeleton covered in padding and dressed in his own clothes, with a wax head on top.
This wax head was not part of Bentham's original plan. He had hoped for his actual head to be preserved using the practices of the New Zealand Maori. He even carried around glass eyes for 10 years, hoping they would be used in his preservation. Unfortunately, the friend in charge of the task was not experienced in this technique, resulting in a less than ideal preservation. Thus, a wax replacement was used instead.
Bentham's head also has an interesting story. In 1989, students from a rival university, King's College, kidnapped it and demanded a ransom for its return. It is rumored that they even played football with it on their way down Kingsway, causing damage and a formal complaint from UCL. While the football part may not be confirmed, it is no surprise that such an iconic figure would attract such attention.
Another popular tale is that Bentham's Auto-Icon is wheeled into meetings of the College Council and even 'votes' in case of a tie. However, UCL has confirmed that this is not true. What is true, though, are the 26 'mourning rings' that Bentham had made for his closest friends and family. These gold rings feature his silhouette and a lock of his hair - a fitting keepsake for a man as eccentric as Bentham.
In conclusion, while Bentham may be better remembered for his afterlife plan rather than his contributions to social reform, it is a testament to his unique character and legacy. His Auto-Icon remains on display at UCL, a reminder of his eccentricities and the impact he had on the world.
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