Jeremy Bentham auto-icon

Jeremy Bentham auto-icon

• Bentham close up
  A close up of Jeremy Bentham's wax head during conservation work.. View full-size photo here.
• What Would Jeremy Do?
  Copy of sticker created as part of a UCL fundraising initiative - ©UCL Development and Alumni Relations Office. View full-size photo here.
• Bentham in his box (with head)
  Jeremy Bentham's auto-icon in his box with his preserved head between his feet.. View full-size photo here.
• Jeremy Bentham with paper lantern head
  The auto-icon with a paper lantern of his head.. View full-size photo here.
• X-Ray of Skull
  X-ray of Jeremy Bentham's skull taken on behalf of Engle Entertainment for 'The Mummy Road Show' on National Geographic.. View full-size photo here.
• Jeremy Bentham
  Photo of Jeremy Bentham outside of his box - ©UCL Creative Media Services. View full-size photo here.
• Jeremy Bentham without his hat
  Jeremy Bentham without his hat - ©UCL Creative Media Services. View full-size photo here.

Jeremy Bentham was a philosopher and jurist whose doctrine of Utilitarianism has inspired many great thinkers. When he died in 1832 he left his body to be publicly dissected by his friend, Dr Thomas Southwood Smith, and asked that it be preserved as an ‘auto-icon’. Jeremy the auto-icon came to the College in 1850, he has been cared for by UCL ever since.There are a great many myths and legends that have grown up around the auto-icon of Jeremy Bentham. Many of these are addressed in the 'Myth and Legend' page on this website.

We are always looking for more stories, photos and memories about the auto-icon. Anyone with anything interesting they want to share please get in contact on the email below.

Since the 1960s the Bentham Project has been working to transcribe and catalogue all of his papers. The related links section provide more information on this project, as well as more in depth information on his life, works and death.

Further information about the auto-icon can be obtained from: nicholas.booth@ucl.ac.uk

The above recording was made by Daniel Kordik for the 'Sounds of UCL' competition. As part of this he placed a micro-phone in Jeremy Bentham's box for an hour on the 21st March 2013. From 0.29 it is possible to hear a tour taking place.