Jeremy Bentham: He Wanted his Body to be Taxidermy and Displayed.

Step into the intriguing world of Jeremy Bentham, the philosopher who continues to make his presence felt at University College London (UCL) nearly two centuries after his death. Known for pioneering utilitarianism — the idea that the best action is the one that maximizes happiness for the most significant’s legacy at UCL is as unconventional as his ideas.

A Philosopher’s Unusual Last Wish

Bentham, who passed away in 1832, had a final request that was anything but ordinary. He instructed that his body be preserved and transformed into an “auto-icon,” a self-image to serve as his memorial. His friend, surgeon Thomas Southwood Smith, honored this wish by preserving Bentham’s skeleton, dressing it in his clothes, and crafting a wax head to complete the figure.his unique memorial was later entrusted to UCL in 1850, resisting Bentham’s support for accessible education — a core principle of the university. ,

From Hidden Hallways to the Heart of Campus

For many years, Bentham’s auto-icon resided in a wooden cabinet within UCL’s Wilkins Building, quietly observing the comings and goings of academia. In February 2020, to celebrate the first anniversary of the Student Centre, Bentham was relocated to a prominent spot in the building’s atrium. Now housed in a…