List of Founder Fellows of the Royal Society

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This is a complete list of the Founder Fellows of the Royal Society. [1] Founder Fellows are defined as those present at the inaugural meeting of the Society at Gresham College on 28 November 1660.

Royal Society English learned society for science

The President, Council and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, commonly known as the Royal Society, is a learned society. Founded on 28 November 1660, it was granted a royal charter by King Charles II as "The Royal Society". It is the oldest national scientific institution in the world. The society is the United Kingdom's and Commonwealth of Nations' Academy of Sciences and fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, recognising excellence in science, supporting outstanding science, providing scientific advice for policy, fostering international and global co-operation, education and public engagement.

Contents

Fellows elected in 1660

William Ball was an English astronomer. He was one of the founding Fellows of the Royal Society. He was appointed the Society's first treasurer on 28 November 1660, and served until 1663.

William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker English mathematician

William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker, PRS was an English mathematician who introduced Brouncker's formula, and was the first President of the Royal Society. He was also a civil servant, serving as a Commissioner of the Royal Navy. He was a friend and colleague of Samuel Pepys, and features prominently in the great Diary.

Jonathan Goddard (1617–1675) was an English physician, known both as army surgeon to the forces of Oliver Cromwell, and as an active member of the Royal Society.

Fellows elected in 1663

Robert Boyle Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor

Robert Boyle was an Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor. Boyle is largely regarded today as the first modern chemist, and therefore one of the founders of modern chemistry, and one of the pioneers of modern experimental scientific method. He is best known for Boyle's law, which describes the inversely proportional relationship between the absolute pressure and volume of a gas, if the temperature is kept constant within a closed system. Among his works, The Sceptical Chymist is seen as a cornerstone book in the field of chemistry. He was a devout and pious Anglican and is noted for his writings in theology.

Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine Scottish inventor, politician, judge and freemason

Alexander Bruce, 2nd Earl of Kincardine FRS (1629–1681) was a Scottish inventor, politician, judge and freemason, responsible for developing the pendulum clock, in collaboration with Christiaan Huygens.

John Wilkins Secretary of the Royal Society and Bishop of Chester

John Wilkins, (1614–1672) was an Anglican clergyman, natural philosopher and author, and was one of the founders of the Royal Society. He was Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death.

See also

Gresham College and the formation of the Royal Society loose collection of scientists in England

The Gresham College group was a loose collection of scientists in England of the 1640s and 1650s, a precursor to the Royal Society of London. Within a few years of the granting of a charter to the Royal Society in 1662, its earlier history was being written and its roots contested. There is still some debate about the effect of other groups on the way the Royal Society came into being. The composition of those other groups is unclear in parts; and the overall historiography of the early Royal Society is still often regarded as problematic. But the group centred on Gresham College has always been seen as fundamental to the course of events.

Related Research Articles

Sir Robert Moray FRS was a Scottish soldier, statesman, diplomat, judge, spy, freemason and natural philosopher. He was well known to Charles I and Charles II, and the French cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin. He attended the meeting of the 1660 committee of 12 on 28 November 1660 that led to the formation of the Royal Society, and was influential in gaining its Royal Charter and formulating its statutes and regulations.

William Croone British doctor

William Croone was an English physician and one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society.

Viscount Brouncker

Viscount Brouncker, of Lyons in the Province of Leinster, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 12 September 1645 for the courtier Sir William Brouncker. He was made Baron Brouncker, of Newcastle in the Province of Munster, at the same time, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his eldest son William, the second Viscount. William was a distinguished mathematician, who was the first President of the Royal Society and also held political office. He was unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother Henry, the third Viscount. Henry served as Cofferer of the Household between 1680 and 1685, but was universally detested as being "false, hard and covetous". He was childless and the titles became extinct on his death in 1688.

Henry Brouncker, 3rd Viscount Brouncker English courtier

Henry Brouncker, 3rd Viscount Brouncker was a Restoration-era medical doctor, courtier, politician, and civil servant. He served as Cofferer of the Household to Charles II, and served as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James, Duke of York. He was a member of parliament and a very skilled games player.

The Gresham Baronetcy, of Lympsfield in the County of Surrey, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 31 July 1660 for Marmaduke Gresham, Member of Parliament for East Grinstead and Bletchingley. He was a descendant of Sir John Gresham, Lord Mayor of London. The second Baronet was also Member of Parliament for Bletchingley. The title became extinct on the death of the sixth Baronet in 1801.

Sir Marmaduke Gresham, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660 and from 1685 to 1689.

Sir Paul Neile FRS was an English astronomer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640 and from 1673 to 1677.

References

  1. ↑ "Fellows of the Royal Society", Royal Society. "Fellowship from 1660 onwards" (xlsx file on Google Docs via the Royal Society)
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