THE ROYAL SOCIETY
The (British) Royal Society is a unique symbol of the Enlightenment. Its contributions to the Enlightenment were intellectual. v
It is the oldest national scientific society in the world and the leading national organization for the promotion of scientific research in Britain. It originated on November 28, 1660 by the famous architect, scientist, astronomer and Mason Christopher Wren, with ambitions to become a truly national society devoted to the promotion of science. That first meeting was at Gresham College, funded by another Mason, John Gresham. It was chartered by King Charles II. Although the Society had royal patronage from the start, it has always remained a voluntary organization, independent of the British state.eb
Between 30 & 40% of the original 35 Royal Society members were Masons. v
A key development was the establishment in 1665 of a periodical that acted as the Society’s mouthpiece, officially adapted by the Society in 1753: this was the “Philosophical Transactions”, which still flourishes today as the oldest scientific journal in continuous publication. Endowments from the 18th century onward made possible prizes for various aspects that are still awarded today; e.g., the Copley Medal. eb
Election to the Royal Society’s Fellowship is a coveted accolade for scientists; since 1945 women have also been eligible for this honor. Today there are approximately 1,300 fellows and 130 foreign members. eb
The Society’s role now includes the provision of independent advice on issues of current concern, and it also administers large sums of public money through grants aimed to support innovative research, foster international scientific cooperation, and encourage better communications between scientists and the public. eb
The Society was a model for Ben Franklin, also a member (Fellow), to establish the American Philosophical Society in 1742. The American Philosophical Society is the oldest learned society in the United States. Founded in 1743, it continues its mission of "promoting useful knowledge" through research, fellowships, and public outreach. eb
The Royal Society began as an exclusive, pre-enlightenment association. It was “revolutionary” in the sense that it paved the way for the Enlightenment of the 18th century, which it did by encouraging analyses of nature’s processes to explain them in terms of general governing “laws.” v
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