Colonial Fellows of the Royal Society of London, 1661-1788
@
Raymond Phineas Stearns
The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr., 1946), 208-268.
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COLONIAL FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL
SOCIETY OF LONDON, 1661-1788
That inhabitants of the British colonies in America were
sometimes elected fellows of the Royal Society of London has
been known since the foundation of the Society, but no one has
attempted to prepare from the Society's original records a complete
list of colonial fe1lows.l Such a list, as it may indicate
the names of those colonial scientists, both amateur and professional,
who, by constant intercourse with fellows of the Royal
Society in England and with the Society itself as a corporate
body, contributed most to the introduction and development of
"experimental philosophy" in the New World, it is the purpose
of this paper to supply.
From the aims and practices both of its immediate predecessor,
"The Invisible College," and of a number of its earliest
fellows, the Royal Society inherited as a prime motive of its
existence the accurate collection, classification, and interpretation
of scientific data from all parts of the world. Such an
*The author is Associate Professor of History at the University of
Illinois. He is especially interested in the social and intellectual history of
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
This paper was scheduled to appear in Volume VIII of Osiris. Osiris
was printed in Belgium, and the article had reached the stage of page proofs
before the latest German invasion of Belgium interrupted publication. See
George Sarton, "The Publication of Isis," in Scielzce, XCII (No. 2377, July
19, 1940), 59-60, and Isis, XXXIII (1941), 53.
1 The list given by Frederick E. Brasch in "The Royal Society of London
and its Influence upon Scientific Thought in the American Colonies," T ~ Q
Scielztific Molzthly, XXXIII (0ct.-Nov., 1931), 336-355, 448-469, omits consideration
of the West Indies, and for the continental American colonies it
is inaccurate and incomplete. The list set forth herein is compiled from
original minutes and other manuscript records in the Royal Society Library,
in the survey of which every attempt has been made to be both accurate and
complete. The author wishes to thank the Council of the Royal Society for
its permission to use these manuscripts; to acknowledge the splendid assistance
of the Society's Librarian, Mr. Henry W. Robinson, and of his
Assistant, Mr. J. C. Graddon; and to express appreciation to the Social
Science Research Council of New York City, as Fellow of which (1934-36)
the author collected materials for this paper.
undertaking required collaborators in remote places and in the
first charter of the Society (July 15, 1662) Charles 11, "for the
improvement of the experiments, arts, and sciences of the aforesaid
Royal Society," granted to the President, Council, and
Fellows of the Society, and to their successors, the privilege
. . . to enjoy mutual intelligence and knowledge with all
and all manner of strangers and foreigners, whether private
or collegiate, corporate or politic, without any molestation,
interruption, or disturbance whatsoever : Provided nevertheless,
that this our indulgence, so granted as it is aforesaid,
be not extended to further use than the particular
benefit and interest of the aforesaid Royal Society in matters
or things philosophical, mathematical, or me~hanical.~
It is not surprising, then, to find that one of the newly organized
Royal Society's first cares was to create a committee
"For Corre~pondence,"~o r that, from within a few years after
the Society's incorporation until the era of the Napoleonic Wars
(at least), the secretaries and many individual fellows of the
Royal Society maintained an enormous scientific correspondence
with men of many different capacities and degrees in Europe,
the Levant, the East Indies, and the British colonies in the
Americas.
Of these correspondents only a small proportion, particularly
of those in the British colonies, were elected fellows of the
Society. Non-British European correspondents, usually eminent
continental scientists, frequently were elected fellows of the
Royal Society on the Foreign List as recognition of their
achievements in experimental science. But comparatively few
colonial correspondents were elected to the ~ o ~saocliet y primarily
because of noteworthy contributions to scientific knowledge.
They were none the less valued, however, for the Royal
Society cherished them as trustworthy purveyors of scientific
2See the translation of the first charter in Tlze Recovd of the Royal
Society of London (hereinafter cited as The Record) (3rd ed., London,
1912), 67-68. The second charter (April 22, 1663) retained practically the
same words as those auoted above.
3 ~ h o k a sB irch, he History of the Royal Society of London . . . (4
vols. London, 1756-57), I, 406-407.
210 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
data from little known regions of the world, prized them as
instruments by whose means the Society could spread the gospel
of the new experimental philosophy in the colonies, and, occasionally,
recognized them as scientific investigators whose accomplishments
merited their election to the most highly respected
learned society in the Empire.
The election to the Society on the "Home List7'* of fellows
who inhabited American colonies and who were unable to attend
the regular meetings of the Society created organizational
problems, and the statutes relating to the election of such fellows
were altered from time to time. At the outset, there
appears no special provision for English fellows whose distant
abode made it impossible for them to attend the weekly meetings.
Chapters of the Original Statutes of the Royal Society
(1663) which treated of the election of fellows to the Society
set forth a method whereby candidates were to be proposed by
one or more fellows at a meeting of the Society; balloted for
at a subsequent meeting (provided a quorum was present) ;5
notified of election and of the moral and financial obligations incurred
by membership; required to subscribe to "the obligation,"
which provided that candidates for admission
. . . do hereby pronaise each for himelf, that we will endeavour
to promote the good of the Royal Society of
London for improving natural knowledge, and to pursue
the ends for which the same was founded; that we will'
be present at the Meetings of the Society, as often as conveniently
we can, especially at the Anniversary Elections,
and upon extraordinary occasions; and that we mill observe
the Statutes and Orders of the said Society. Pro-
4 That is, the list of fellows who were subjects of the English Crown
5An exception was made for British subjects "having the title and
place of a Baron, or having any higher title and place, and every one of
his Majesty's Privy, Council of any of the said kingdoms [England, Scotland,
and Ireland], who could be "propounded and put to the vote for
Election, on the same day, there being present a competent number [21] for
making Elections." The Record, 120. At a meeting of the Council, May 13,
1663, it was "Ordered, That the debate concerning those that are to be
received and admitted into the Society, be kept under Secrecy." Council
Minutes (MS in the Royal Society Library, London), I, 2. This and all
other manuscripts in the Royal Society Librqry are cited with the permission
of the Council of the Society.
COLONIAL FELLOWS OF ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON 211
vided, that whensoever any of us shall signify to the President,
under his hand, that he desireth to withdraw from the
Society, he shall be free frovn this Obligation for the
f
This done, the candidate agreed to pay weekly contributions of
one shilling each "toward the charges of experiments, and other
expences of the Society"; and, within four weeks after election,
"or within such further time as shall be granted by the Society
or Council, upon cause shewed to either of them," the candidate
was required to appear in person before the Society, to pay an
admission fee of forty shillings, and to be admitted formally
into the Society by the President who, taking each candidate by
the hand, said, "I do by the authority, and in the name of the
Royal Society of London for improving natural knowledge, admit
you a Fellow thereof.'j7
Candidates residing outside London, especially colonials,
found it difficult, if not impossible, to comply with these regulations.
To ameliorate their situation, the Council passed (April,
1664) a new statute which provided that:
When any person residing in Forreign parts shall be
elected into the Society, in the due and accustomed forme
and manner; the said person shall be registered among the
Fellows of the Society, and be reputed a Fellow thereof,
-z'tn'thout Subscription and admission in the usual Forvne,
any thing contained in the Statutes requiring Subscription
and Admission to the contrary notwithstanding: And the
said person may have an Instrument under the seal of the
Society testifying him to be elected and reputed a Fellow
of the Society acc~rdingly.~
6 C. R. Weld, A H i s t o ~ y of the Royal Society . . . (2 vols. London,
1848), I, 145-146; The Record, 117. After the form of the Obligation had
been agreed won. the Council added (Tune 17. 1663) : "And if anv Fellow
shall refuse td subscribe the said obligation, he shah be ejected oht of the
Society: And if any person Elected, shall refuse to subscribe the same, the
Election of the said person shall be voyd: Neither shall any person, refusing
to Subscribe. be admitted or Registered among the Fellows of the Societv."
Council Mini., I, 12.
- -
7 The Record, 118, 120.
8 Council Mins., I, 62-64. The italics are mine.
212 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
This statute, though designed primarily for foreign members,
was extended to colonial fellows as well9 And in the same
year (1664) was passed another statute which likewise applied
to colonial fellows, foreign members, and others who derived
no direct benefit from experiments performed before the Society,
provided that fellows who resided abroad should pay no
weekly contributions.1° Almost ten years later (October 30,
1673), the Council provided that
. . . such Members of the R. Society as are or shall go
abroad & continue absent from England above three
Months shall not be obliged to pay their weekly Contribution
after those 3 months are expired, but every such Fellow
shall be left at his own Liberty to pay or not after the
said time, until1 he shall be return'd againe unto England.ll
Thus, after April, 1664, a colonial subject of the English Crown
was elected fellow of the Royal Society merely by being pro<
pounded candidate by a fellow at a regular meeting of the
Society and by being chosen by secret ballot at a subsequent
meeting, without subscription to the obligation, payment of fees,
or formal admission.
On August 5, 1682, however, "The Statute for Election of
Fellows having by long Experience been found insufficient for
bringing in persons qualified for the ends of the Institution of
the Royal Society," the Council passed a new statute providing
that,
Every person that would propose a Candidate shall
first give in his name to some of the Councell, that so in
the next Councell it may be discoursed vivci vo~ce whether
the person is known to be so qualified as in probability to
9 The first draft of the statute ran: " . . . any person residing in remote
or Forreign parts . . . " indicating, perhaps that the Council intended, as the
practice was until 1753, to exempt colonial fellows from the necessity of
appearing in London for subscription and admission. Ibid,, I, 62.
10 The Record, 164. Difficulties in the collection of fees from fellows on
the Home List led the Society, before 1674, to require of all candidates a
"Bond for payment of the contribution." Later, as will be noted below, a
bond was required of colonials too. Ibid., 160, 173.
11 Council Mins., I, 219-220.
be useful1 to the Society. And if the Councell return no
other Answer but that they desire further time to be acquainted
with the gentleman proposed, the Proposer is to
take that for an Answer. And if they are well assured that
the Candidate may be useful1 to the Society then the
Candidate shall be proposed at the next meeting of the
Society and ballotted according to the Statute in that behalf,
and shall immediately sign the usual Bond12 and pay
his admission money upon his Adrnission.13
Thereafter, all candidates proposed were referred first to the
Council which, if it approved, recommended them back to the
Society which then balloted for and elected them according to
the former statutes; but other regulations applying to English
candidates who resided abroad or in the colonies remained unchanged,
and such candidates were still exempted from subscription,
payment of fees, and formal admission.
Although alterations occurred in the statutes relating to admission
of fellows, these exemptions in favor of colonial fellows
existed until 1753. Indeed, as the number of colonial fellows
increased a more precise statement of their exemptions and of
their exact status in the Society appeared in the statutes. Jarred,
perhaps, by the misunderstandings which arose about the election
of Cotton Mather to the Society,14 the Council drafted
12 See above, note 10.
13 The Record, 159-160.
14 Details of this unpleasant affair, too intricate for consideration here,
are given by G. L. Kittredge in "Cotton Mather's Election into the Royal
Society," Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Publications, XIV (1912), 81-
114. Whether consideration of Mather's case led the Council of the Royal
Society to effect the clarifying statute of 1727-8 is impossible to say. The
only unique feature of the Mather incident was the fuss stirred up by
Mather's jealous enemies. The names of several other bona fide fellows of
the Royal Society residing in the colonies were more than once omitted from
the printed list of members. For example, a search among the printed lists
in the Royal Society Library reveals that the list for 1715 omitted William
Brattle (elected in 1714), those for 1722, 1724, 1725, and 1727 omitted Pwi
Dudley (elected in 1721), and that for 1727 omitted Thomas Robie (elected
in 1725). The fact is, these lists were not intended as complete and official
lists of all the fellows of the Royal Society; rather, they were printed, as
Secretary Waller told Mather in 1713, "for the Convenience of the Fellows
present in choosing the Council, President, and officers for the ensuing year"
at the yearly elections on St. Andrews Day. Makher and other colonial
fellows were omitted because they were not present at the elections and,
indeed, until they were formally admitted into the Society, had no vote.
214 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
(April 17, 1727) and enacted (January 4, 1727/8) a new statute
which stated that
Every Person who is a Foreigner and every one of
his Majesties Subjects whose habitation or usual place of
residence is more than forty miles distance from London,
shall be and be deemed as a Fellow of the Society immediately
after he shall be Elected, and shall be registered
in the Journal Book of the Society as such: Provided always,
that no such person shall have liberty to Vote at any
Election or meeting of the Society before he shall be
qualified pursuant to the Statutes. And if he shall neglect
so to qualify himself the first time he comes to London
when he may be present at a meeting of the Society and
can be admitted; his election shall be declared Void, and
his Name shall be cancelled in the Register.16
At the same time (January 4, 1727/8), the Council passed
another statute which, though it did not deprive colonial fellows
of their exemptions, altered the manner of electing them and
all other candidates for admission into the Society. The new
statute replaced that of August 5, 1682, and read as follows:
Every Person to be Elected Fellow of the Society
shall first at a Meeting of the Society be propounded as
a candidate to be approved by the Council, and shall be
recommended by three members, one of which at least
shall be a member of the Council, and one of them shall
at the same Time mention and Specify the qualifications of
the said Candidate. And afterwards such Person shall at
another meeting of the Society (whereat there shall be a
competent Number for making Elections) be referred back
15Council Mins., 111, 5-6; The Record, 161. In the original draft
presented to the Council (April 17, 1727), this statute was more explicit,
stating: "That any Person residing out of Great Britain, who shall be
Elected into the Society, shall be a Fellow of the Society, without Subscribing
the Obligation, Giving Bond for Contributions, paying his Admission
Money, or being Admitted . . . . That however no Person shall have a right
to be present at the Meetings of the Society or to give his vote in any
Election till he shall have been Admitted." Council Mins., 11, 304, 308.
from the Council, if approved, and shall then be propounded
and put to the Vote for Election. Saving and
Excepting that it shall be free for every one of his
Majesties Subjects who is a Peer or the Son of a Peer
of Great Britain or Ireland, and for every one of his
Majesties Privy Council of either of the said Kingdoms
to be propounded by any single Person and to be put to
the Vote for Election on the same Day, there being present
a competent Number for making Elections.16
The above statute, however, survived only about three years.
Certain fellows of the Society, suspecting that it contained
elements contrary to the Society's charter, brought about a review
of its provisions by the Attorney-General who, after deliberation,
declared that the statute was opposed to the charter
and therefore void.li Accordingly, the Council prepared a new
statute relating to the election of fellows. This statute, which
passed Deceillber 10, 1730, introduced two new practices in the
election of canditlates, namely, the use of certificates and the
lapse of a stated interval between propounding candidates and
balloting for their election. Each of these innovatioils is fully
described in the statute, which ran as follows:
Every person to be elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society, shall be propounded and recommended at a meeting
of the Society by three or more Members; who shall
then deliver to one of the Secretaries a paper, signed by
themselves with their own names, specifying the name,
addition, profession, occupation, and chief qualifications;
the inventions, discoveries, works, writings, or other productions
of the candidate for Election; as also notifying the
usual place of his habitation.
A fair copy of which paper, with the date of the day
when delivered, shall be fixed up in the common meeting
room of the Society at ten several ordinary meetings, be-
16 Council Mins., 111, 5-6; Tlze Record, 160.
17 A complete discussion of the case, with the Attorney-General's opinion,
occurs in i\'eld. Hist. of the Royal Soc., I , 455-461.
WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
fore the said candidate shall be put to the ballot: Saving
and excepting, that it shall be free for every one of his
Majesty's subjects, who is a Peer or the Son of a Peer of
Great Britain or Ireland, and for every one of his
Majesty's Privy Council of either of the said Kingdoms,
and for every foreign Prince or Ambassador, to be propounded
by any single person, and to be put to the ballot
for Election on the same day, there being present a competent
number for making election^.^^
Beginning in 1731, as is illustrated below, for each candidate
propounded' for fellowship there is a certificate describing the
candidate's qualifications and bearing the signatures of at least
three fellows of the Society. Further, in order to prevent abuses,
the Council set forth (June 19, 1738) "as an useful1 Precept"
that "no Person sign a Certificate in recommendation of a Candidate
unless he be personally acquainted with him."19 Later
(February 19, 1756), the "precept" was somewhat modified in
an order:
That no Fellow of the Society, Do Sign any Certificate
of recommendation of any Candidate for Election
into this Society, unless Such Candidate be known to the
person Signing Such Certificate, either in person or by
his Works, and that such Knowledge be particularly expressed
in every Such Certificate of Recomrnendati~n.~~
Certificates printed below reflect the Council's order that "such
Knowledge be particularly expressed" in every certifi~ate.~U~n til
1sCouncil Mins., 111, 77, 79; The Record, 160-161.
19 Council Mins., 111, 194.
2oIbid,, IV, 171. That the order was not strictly obeyed is evidenced
by the statement of the Vice-President, Sir James Burrow, in March,
1774, when he told the Society "that he was afraia Gentlemen had not been
$ways sufficiently careful in giving their signatures without a sufficient
knowledge of the persons so recommended, and that as this might be a
growing evil, highly detrimental to the honour of the Society, he hoped every
Member would concur in having it recommended to the Council to come to
some resolutions on that account." Journal-Book, XXVIII, 334-335 (March
17, 1774).
21 See below, pp. 237 ff.
after the close of the period treated in this paper this form of
election to the Royal Society obtained.
The statutes of the Society underwent but one further
change which, until the close of the eighteenth century, affected
colonial fellows. This was the withdrawal, in 1753, of exemptions
from payment of fees which, since 1664, had been extended
to colonial fellows and others residing at places remote
from London. Financial troubles, arising primarily f rotn nonpayment
of fees by English fellows who claimed exemption
because they resided more than forty miles from London, appears
to have prompted the reversal of policy. In any case,
on July 5, 1753, the statute of January 4, 1727/8 (officially
referred to as the eighth statute of the sixth chapter of the
printed statutes, edition of 1752) which specifically granted the
exenlptions was repealed as regarded English and colonial fellows,
and the Council enacted the following new statute by a
unanimous vote :
IVhereas by the Eighth Statute of the Sixth Chapter
of the Statutes of this Society, It is Enacted and Declared,
That every Person who is a Foreigner, and every one of
his Majesty's Subjects whose habitation or usual place of
residence is at more than forty miles distance from London,
shall be and be deemed a Fellow of the Society iinmediately
after he shall be Elected, and shall be Registered
in the Journal Book of the Society as Such . . . .
.And IYhereas the said Statute, so far as the same concerns
his Majesty's Subjects, has been found to be detrimental
to the Society, The Council therefore have thought
proper to Order and Enact, ,\nd do hereby Order and
Enact, That the said Eighth Statute of the said Sixth
Chapter, so far as the Same concerns any of his Majesty's
Subjects, or any person residing in his Majesties Dominions
be, and the same hereby is repealed and made void. And
it is hereby further declared and Enacted, That no one
of his Majesties Subjects, or any person residing in his
Majesties Dominions, who Shall be Elected a Fellow of
the Society Shall be deemed an actual Fellow thereof, nor
WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Shall the Name of any Such person be Registered in the
Journal Book, or printed in the List of Fellows of the
Society, until Such Person Shall have paid his admission
Fee, and given the usual Bond, or paid the Sum of Twenty-
+ one pounds for the use of the Society in lieu of Contributions.
But that upon Such payment or giving Bond as
aforesaid, It shall be lawful for the Society to give leave
for the name of any Such person so Elected as aforesaid to
be entred in the Journal Book, and printed in the List of
the Fellows of the society, Provided Always that no such
person Shall have liberty to Vote at any Election or Meeting
of the Society, before he shall be duly admitted as a
Fellow thereof pursuant to the former S t a t ~ t e . ~ ~
Thereafter, having been chosen member of the Royal Society
in accordance with the statute of 1730 governing elections to
the Society, no colonial candidate was properly deemed fellow
until he had paid the admission fee23 and had either given bond
to insure payment of contributions or had paid twenty-one
pounds "for the use of the Society in lieu of Contrib~~tions."~~
Moreover, as former statutes stated, no colonial fellow, having
been duly elected and having paid his fees, could attend meetings
or vote in elections of the Society until he had been formally
admitted in person according to the ancient ceremony of hdmission.
The following list of colonial fellows of the Royal Society
includes, besides native Americans and West Indians, a number
of fellows who, though not colonials by birth, resided in the
22 Council Mins., IV, 120-122, 124-125.
23Originally forty shillings, the admission fee was increased to two
guineas sometime before 1752 at w.hich time it was raised to five guineas
and remained at this level during the period herein treated. After 1752,
however, all fellows received gratis copies of the Philosophical Trmactwns
published by the Society. See Tlze Record, 163.
24 This "composition fee" was increased to twenty-six guineas on December
11, 1766. See The Record, 164.
American colonies and stimulated the growth of scientific interests
there. These English physicians, botanists, and naturalists
carried to the colonies a scientific spirit which, as wealth
increased and society matured in the colonial settlements, was
imbibed by colonials with an inquiring turn of mind. Thus,
despite the early bases of medieval scholasticism and theology in
colonial thought, the new "experimental philosophy" championed
by the Royal Society became a living thing in the American
wilderness.
However, in addition to the scientists who migrated to the
Americas, a number of English fellows of the Royal Society,
by their constant scientific correspondence with colonial investigators,
greatly encouraged the acceptance of the experimental
method. To cite all of them is beyond the scope of the
present paper, but no list of colonial scientific men is complete
without mention of a few patrons of experimental learning in
the mother country. Accordingly, as a preface to the list of
colonial fellows of the Royal Society, the most significant English
correspondents are named. Of the latter, a few travelled
in the colonies and, taken in conjunction with their colonial fellows,
they constitute the means by which the learning of Bacon
and Boyle, of Newton and Linnaeus, and of a multitude of other
Old World scientists was introduced to the British colonies of
America. Moreover, from the American colonial viewpoint, the
line of descent of the scientific interest of John Winthrop the
younger to "the amazing'' Benjamin Franklin and his colonial
colleagues becomes increasingly clear.
The first generation of fellows of the Royal Society included
men whose scientific correspondence aroused colonial
interest in experimental philosophy. Among these, Robert Boyle
was eminent. As Governor of the reorganized (1661) "Company
for the propagation of the gospel in New England and
parts adjacent in America," Boyle held wide correspondence with
New Englanders, and his letters often mixed scientific with religious
interests. Among his correspondents were John Eliot,
John Winthrop, Hezekiah Usher, and the physicians, William
220 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
and Jonathan aver^.^^ Similarly, Henry Oldenburg, Nehemiah
Grew, and Robert Hooke, both privately and as secretaries of
the Royal Society, engaged in scientific correspondence with
men in New England, New York, Virginia, Barbados, Bermuda,
and J a m a i ~ a ;a~nd~ John, Earl of Carbury (Lord Vaughan),
who had been governor of Jamaica (1674-78) before he was
President of the Royal Society (1686-89), kept both his West
Indian friends and the Royal Society aware of the natural
curiosities of Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.27
A larger, more active, and more eminent group of fellows
of the Royal Society maintained extensive correspondence with
colonials in the eighteenth century. At the turn of the century
were : James Petiver, the London apothecary and naturalist,
whose printed works gave recognition to dozens of colonial correspondents
who had sent him specimens from America and the
West in die^;^^ Edmund Halley, the famous astronomer, who
voyaged to the Americas and West Indies in 1698-1700 and
made friends with whom he corresponded for many years afterw
a r d ~a;n~d ~S ir Hans Sloane, who visited Jamaica and other
West Indian islands in 1687-89, published The Natural History
of Jamaica, served as Secretary, Vice-President, and President
of the Royal Society, made one of the most famous collections
of natural curiosities in the world, had scores of friends and
25 See Thomas Birch, ed., The Works of the Honourable Robert Bayle
(5 vols. London, 1744), I, V, passim; The Boyle Papers (MSS in the Royal
Society Library), VII, # 36; The Boyle Letters (MSS in R. S. Library),
I, fol. 9.
26 See, for example, R. C. Winthrop, "Correspondence of Hartlib, Haak,
Oldenburg, and Others of the Founders of the Royal Society with Governor
Winthrop of Connecticut, 1661-1672," Massachusetts Historical Society,
Proceedings, 1st Series, XVI, 211-251 ; G. L. Kittredge, "Letters of Samuel
Lee and Samuel Sewall Relating to New England and the Indians," The
Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Publications, XIV (1912), 142-186;
Nehemiah Grew, Museum Regali Socktatis Or A Catalogue & Description of
the Natural and Artificial Rwities Belonging to the Royal Society . . .
(Lqndon, 1681), prepared at the Society's request, illustrates results of the
Society's colonial correspondence in the form of colonial "rarities" listed.
27 See the Journal-Book, VIII, 208 ff.
28 James Petiver, Musei Peteveriani . . . (London, 1695-1703), passim;
G~zophylaciNi aturae & Artis Decas Prima (London, 1702-1706), 92-94, and
passim; Pteri-GrMhia: Americamu . . .(London, 1712).
29Eugene Fairfield McPike, Correspondence and Papers of Edwwnd
Halley (History of Science Society Publications, n. s., 11. Oxford, 1932),
passim.
COLONIAL FELLOWS OF ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON 221
correspondents (including Benjamin Franklin and William Byrd)
in the British colonies, and was patron of several naturalists,
such as Mark Catesby, who made scientific expeditions to the
colonies. Before the end of the first half of the eighteenth
century, three secretaries of the Royal Society had performed
notable services in stimulating scientific enterprise in the colonies.
These were Richard Waller, to whom Cotton Mather addressed
much of his Cwiosa Americana and other letters; Dr. James
Jurin, friend of Zabdiel Boylston and promoter of various colonial
scientific investigations; and Dr. Cromwell Mortimer, under
whose care the Royal Society's colonial correspondence flourished
exceedingly.
Mark Catesby and Peter Collinson were two more English
fellows of the Royal Society who contributed greatly towards
the growth of colonial scientific interests. When Catesby was
proposed a candidate for the Royal Society (February 1, 1732/3),
his propounders described him as
. . . a Gentleman well Skill'd in Botany & Natural History
who travel'd for Several years in Various parts of America
where he Collected Materials for a Natural History of
Carolina & the Bahama Islands which Curious and Magnificient
Work he has presented to the Royal Society . . . . 30
Indeed, Catesby spent about ten years in America where he
travelled widely in Virginia and the Carolinas and collected specimens
and made observations for his books, The Natural History
of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands and Hortus
Europa Americana . . . .32 He was friend and correspondent of
William Byrd, of Governor Francis Nicholson, and of many
other persons in the southern colonies and the Bahama Islands
where he did much to stimulate interest in botany and orni;
thology.
Last to be listed herein and probably the most influential of
the fellows of the Royal Society who encouraged scientific in-
30 Certificates, 1731-50 (R. S. Library), I, 41.
31 2 vols. London, 1731-43.
32 Published posthumously in London, 1767.
222 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
vestigations in the American colonies was Peter Collinson. A
wealthy business man with extensive mercantile connections in
the New World, Collinson devoted much of his energy and
wealth to the collection and classification of scientific data from
all parts of the world. His early religious affiliation with the
Society of Friends appears to have stimulated scientific intercourse
with Quakers in Pennsylvania and Maryland, but his
insatiate desire for accurate information led him to correspond
with many others as well. He was financial benefactor of the
Library Society of Philadelphia and friend of Benjamin Franklin,
whose interest in electrical experimentation he greatly
stimulated. Collinson's colonial correspondents included nearly
all the most prominent colonial scientists, both amateur and
professional, of the second quarter of the eighteenth century.
Besides Franklin, James Logan, Christopher Witt, Dr. John
Mitchell, William Byrd, Dr. John Kearsley, Isham Randolph,
Dr. Cadwallader Colden, and John Bartram were Collinson's
regular correspondents in scientific matters over a period of about
twenty-five years. The Royal Society had no other member so
active in promoting the introduction and development of scientific
learning in the New World;33 and many colonial fellows of the
Royal Society in the list which follows immediately owed their
election entirely or in part to Peter Collinson's efforts on their
behalf.
JOHN WINTHROP (Feb. 12, 1605/6-April 5, 1676), of Connecticut,
colonial governor and general scientific investigator.
In England on colonial business at the Restoration, Winthrop,
who had long had scientific correspondence with English founders
of the Royal Society, was proposed a candidate for election on
December 18, 1661, by William (afterwards Lord) B r e r e t ~ n . ~ ~
33 For accounts of Peter Collinson and his activities, see Dr. John Fothergill,
Some Account of the Late Peter Collinson . . . (London, 1770), which
includes a testimonial by Franklin; Richard Pulteney, Historical and Biographical
Sketches of the Progress of Botaay in Englmd . . . (2 vols. London,
1790), 11, 275-277; Dictionary of National Biography.
34 Journal-Book (MS in the R. S. Library), I, 43; Birch, Hist. of the
R. S., I, 67.
As the Society was unchartered and still in a state of imperfect
organization, formal statutes regulating election of ,fellows had
not been enacted. Consequently, the Society's vote on Winthrop's
candidacy, if vote there was, is not recorded. He was
admitted into the Society on January 1, 1661/2,35 and took an
active part in the experiments and discussions at subsequent meeti
n g ~ .A~ft~er the Society received its second charter (April 22,
1663), the Council (May 20, 1663) "Considered again who
should be received as Fellows into the Society" and "Resolved
unanimously . . . that all the persons in the following List be
Received, Admitted, and Ordered to be registered Fellows of
the Royal Society." There followed an alphabetical list of one
hundred fifteen names of "Original Fellows," including that of
"John Winthrop E ~ q r . "A~f~te r he returned to Connecticut in the
summer of 1663, Winthrop served, until his death in 1676, as
one of the Society's most active colonial corresp~ndents.~~
WILLIAM PENN (Oct. 14, 1644-July 30, 1718), Founder of
Pennsylvania, "was propounded Candidate of this Society by
Mr. [John] Houghton" on November 2, 1681.39 At the next
meeting of the Royal Society (November 9), "Mr. Houghton
presented to the Society from Mr. Penn his Map of Pensilvania
for which the Society returned their thanks," and on the same
day (November 9, 1681) "Wm Pen Esqr" was elected fellow of
the So~iety.~O
WILLIAM BYRD (March 28, 1674-August 26, 1744), of
Westover, Virginia, planter, colonial magistrate, and author of
The Histories of the Dividing Line and other works, was educated
in England and made the acquaintance of various English
fellows of the Royal Society who occasionally took him as
guest to meetings of the Society. Sometime before late April,
35 Journal-Book, I, 44; Birch, The Works of the Honourable Robert
Bovle. I. 68. - 36 bid., I, 76 ff.
37 Council Mins., I, 3-6; The Record, 16-18.
38 See the correspondence in Mass. Hist. Society, Proceedings, 1st Series,
XVI, 211-251; Birch, The Works of the Honoztrable Robert Boyle, 11, 418-
421, 473-474.
39 Journal-Book, VII, 32.
40 Ibid.
224 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
1696, he was propounded as a candidate for election into the
Society. On April 29, 1696, the Council approved his candidacy,
the Society elected him and, being present at the meeting,
Byrd subscribed the obligation and was formally admitted
fellow of the S ~ c i e t y .W~ ~hi le in England Byrd often attended
meetings of the Society (1697-1703), and was elected to the
Council for 1698-99 and for 1703-04.42 After he returned to
Virginia in 1704 he sent scientific communications and Virginia
curiosities to the Society until his death in 1744; and when he
visited England, as in 1718, he attended meetings of the So-
~ i e t y . ~ ~
WILLIAM BURNET (March, 1688-September 7, 1729), governor
of New York and New Jersey (1720-28), and of Massachusetts
(1728-29), was proposed candidate to the Royal Society
by the President, Sir Isaac Newton, on November 30,
1705,44 elected February 13, 1705/6,45 and formally admitted
fellow, February 27, 1705/6.46
FRANCIS NICHOLSON (November 12, 1655-March 5, 1728),
"professional" colonial governor, was lieutenant-governor of
the Dominion of New England (1688), lieutenant-governor of
Virginia ( 1698-92), governor of Maryland ( 1694-98), governor
of Virginia ( 1698-1705), commander of the expedition
against Port Royal (1710), governor of Nova Scotia (1713),
and governor of South Carolina (1720-25). By his extensive
travels and multiple offices in the colonies, governor Nicholson
made a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He was
proposed candidate to the Royal Society by Dr. John Harris
on November 30, 1706, and elected and formally admitted fellow
on December 4, 1706.47 After his return to England in
1725, he attended meetings of the Society and was elected to
the Council for 1725-26 and for 1727-28.48
41 Journal-Book, IX, 227; Council Mins., 11, 94.
42 Council Mins., 11, 98 f f ; 123 ff.
43 Journal-Book, XII, 251 (November 20, 1718).
44 Ibid., XI, 78.
45 Ibid., XI, 81.
46 Ibid.. XI. 83.
47 bid.; XI; 103, 104; Council Mins., 11, 136.
48Journal-Book, XIV, 52: Council Mins., 11, 288 f f ; 111, 1, 6.
THOMAS HOY, M. D. (c. 1662-1718), of Kingston, Jamaica,
physician and naturalist, was educated at St. John's College,
Oxford, practiced medicine for a time at Warwick, was admitted
Candidate to the Royal College of Physicians of London
(December 22, 1693), and was chosen Regius professor of
physic at Oxford in 1698.49 He was proposed candidate to the
Royal Society by Dr. John Harris on July 2, 1707, and elected
fellow on December 1, 1707.50 Settled at Kingston, Jamaica, he
was from 1714 until his death a regular correspondent of the
Royal Society, to which he sent several Jamaican curiosities and
of which he wrote (April 28, 1714) that "my very good friend
Mr. J. Evelyn had many years since instilled into me a just
Idea of the great Merit . . . . ,951
WALTER DOUGLAS, ESQ. (d. 1768), Colonel and governor
of the Leeward Isles (1711-13), was proposed candidate to the
Royal Society by Doctors James Douglas (his brother) and
Hans Sloane on April 5, 1711, "the said Colonel being to go
shortly Governour of the Leeward island^."^^ On November 30,
1711, he was elected,53 but as he had already departed England
he was not formally admitted fellow until February 25, 1713/4.
On the latter date the Society, noting that Douglas
. . . having bken sometimes since elected a member of the
Royal Society but having bin absent in her Majesty's Service
before his Admission; It being put to the Ballot as
the Statute in that case directs, it carryed in the Affirmative
that the former Election shall stand good.54
Accordingly, on February 25, 1713/4, Douglas, having signed
the obligation, furnished bond to insure payment of contributions,
and paid his admission fee, was formally admitted fellow
of the Society.
49 William Munk, The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of
London . . . (2nd ed., 3 vols. London, 1878), I, 503.
50 Council Mins., 11, 144; Journal-Book, XI, 126.
51 Hoy to Secretary Richard Waller, Kingston, Jamaica, April 28, 1714,
in Letter-Book (MS in R. S. Library), XV, 100-104; XVI, 73-76.
52 Journal-Book, XI, 21 1.
53 Ibid., XI, 254.
54 Ibid., XI, 409.
226 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
COTTON MATHER (February 12, 1662/3-February 13,
1727/8), of Boston, Massachusetts, clergyman, scholar, and author,
addressed a letter to Richard Waller, secretary of the
Royal Society, on December 1, 1712, which he "sent with a
Manuscript of Several Letters containing what he calls Curiosa
Americana." The letter ran as follows :
Boston, in New England Dec. 1, 1712.
Sir,
For some very good Reasons, which yet there is no
need of mentioning, I have addressed certain Letters to
you; and joyn'd you with my Excellent friend Dr. John
Woodward in a small Collection of Curiosa Awzericana, to
the making where of I devoted near a fortnight a Little
before the sailing of the fleet from hence, as far as many
other Employments would give me Leave.
I could have been glad I could have provided a Richer
Entertainment for you; But your Candour will accept of
these mean things because they were the best, that I could
in so little time as I could allow myself to be master of. I
despair not that if I live, I may annually entertain you with
something or other from these parts of the world that a
Secretary of the Royal Society may judge it proper to take
some notice of. And tho' I can not presume so much
upon my own merits as to dream of being thought worthy
to be admitted a member of that more than illustrious Body
but rather to belong to the order of the fratres Iporantiae
yet I will here venture to subscribe the Promise which
your Candidates make at their Admission; "That I will
Endeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of
London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge."
I have Entreated my Dear & Honoured Dr. that he
would obtain an Interview with you, and there at a perusal
of some Testimonies with how much Regard, I am Sir
Yours to command,
Cotton Mather55
55 Letter-Book, XV, 44-45.
At a meeting of the Royal Society on the following July
16, 1713,
Mr. Waller produced a Letter he had received from
Mr. Cotton Mather, dated Boston in New England, Dec. 1,
17.12, giving Notice of a MS he had sent containing several
Letters concerning several Natural Curiosities and Observations
observed by him in New England, with a desire of
being Chosen a Member of the Royal Society. After which
several Places in the MS were turned to and read, concerning
some Plants, Observations on the Rattle-Snake, and
of Rain-bows, with a Confirmation of what had formerly
been communicated to the Society concerning the Changing
of the Direction of a Magnetical Needle to the contrary
Poles by a Storm of Thunder at Sea. It was ordered that
a Correspondence with him should be cultivated, he being
judged a very inquisitive and proper Person for that purpose;
and Mr. Waller was ordered to draw up a Letter in
answer to his against the next meeting.56
A week later, at the regular meeting of the Society, "Mr. Waller
proposed the same gentleman [Cotton Mather] as a Candidate,
according to his Desire mentioned in his said Letter; which was
referred to the next Co~ncil."~W~h en the Council met, which
was on July 27, "Mr. Cotton Mather was proposed, Ballotted
for, and approved of to be a Member of the So~iety."~A~t
this point, probably because of imperfections in the minutes of
subsequent meetings of the Society, the Royal Society's record
of Cotton Mather's election ceases. Only the precise date of his
election by the Society can be in doubt, however, for Secretary
Waller wrote to Mather on December. 23, 1713:
As for your being chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society,
that has been don, you have been approved by the Council
and elected by the Body of the Society, so that only the
513 Journal-Book, XI, 374.
57 Ibid., XI, 377.
58 Council Mins., 11, 21 1.
228 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Ceremony of an actual Admission is wanting which you
being beyond the Sea cannot be performed, and you being a
natural born subject cannot be inserted among the Gentlemen
of other Nations in the printed List, which is reason
that your name is not'printed in the List herewith sent you.
The chief reason of printing these Lists is for the Convenience
of the Fellows present in choosing the Council,
President and officers for the ensuing year.5"
In the absence of precise records, the Royal Society has officially
published Mather's election as of July 27, 1713, the
date of the Council's approval of his ~andidacy.~Se~v eral years
passed, during which time Mather, as a colonial fellow who had
not been formally admitted and who consequently had no vote
in Royal Society elections, was not, properly enough, listed in
printed voting lists of fellows. In the meantime, Dr. John
Checkley and other enemies of Mather in New England, observing
"F. R. S." after his signature and noting the omission of
his name in printed lists' of fellows (the proper function of
which either they misapprehended or maliciously ignored), challenged
Mather's right to sign himself as fellow of the Royal
S ~ c i e t y .T~h~e minutes of the meeting of the Society for June
15, 1721, record reverberations of the dispute in England in
the form of
A Letter froin Dr. John Checkley of Boston in New-
England to the Secretary desiring a certificate under hand,
of the either being or not being of Mr. Cotton Mather of
the same place, a Member of this Society. This being occasioned
by the Omission of Mr. Mathers name in the
printed Lists, Mr. Thomas who takes care of those Lists
answered that he had order not to print in the Lists the
name of such Englishmen as had not actually been admitted
in person.62
59 Letter-Book, XV, 59-60 ; XVI, 46-47.
60 The Record, 326.
61 G. L. Kittredge, "Cotton Mather's Election Into the Royal Society,"
Colonial Society of Mass., Publications, XIV (1912), 81-114; "Further
Notes on Cotton Mather and the Royal Society," ibid., XIV (1913), 281-292.
62 Journal-Book, XIII, 162.
Nearly two years afterwards, in order to silence the charges
of false pretence against Mather, the Royal Society investigated
the case thoroughly and, finding in the minutes of the meetings
for 1713 no record of the Society's vote on Mather as a candidate,
assumed that no vote had been taken. Accordingly, on
April 11, 1723, the Society took the following action :
Dr. Woodward informed the President That Dr.
Cotton Mather of New England was recommended many
years ago to the Society for a Fellow, and had also upon a
reference to the Council past their approbation in order
to be ballotted for in the Society, which was never yet done,
he therefore desired that the said Gentleman might be now
ballotted for, which being granted Dr. Cotton Mather was
Elected a Fellow.63
By this means, Mather's enemies were silenced. Meanwhile,
Mather had supplied the Society with many communications from
the New World and he continued to do so until his death.64
WILLIAM BRATTLE (November 22, 1662-February 15,
1716/7), of Cambridge, Massachusetts, clergyman and sometime
tutor in Harvard College, was elected fellow of the Royal Society
and, according fo published lists was accounted a fellow by
the Society, although manuscript materials in the Society's archives
appear to show that he declined the honor. Brattle's
brother, Thomas Brattle, had had scientific correspondence with
the Royal Society for several years prior to his death in 1713.
When news of his decease reached London, the Reverend William
Derham proposed to the Royal Society (October 29, 1713)
that " . . . Mr. Brattles papers lately dqad in New-England might
be endeavoured to be procured for the Society which was accordingly
ordered. Mr. Chamberlayne having a correspondence
63 Journal-Book, XIII, 280.
64 G. L. Kittredge, "Cotton Mather's Scientific Communications to the
Royal Society," American Antiquarian Society, Proceedings: reprint,
Worcester, Mass., April, 1916, 1-42.
230 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
with Mr. Brattles Brother was desired to use his Interest to that
end which he was pleased to promise."65
A few weeks later (December 3, 1713),
The President was pleased to communicate to the Society
a Letter he had lately received from Mr. Chamberlaine
in which he proposed that the Reverend Mr. William Brattle
of Cambridge in New-England (Brother to Mr. Brattle
deceased, whose Papers and Manuscripts relating to Philosophical
Enquirys and observations the Society had desired
in whose hands they now are) might be proposed as a
Candidate to be chosen into this Society which was referred
to the consideration of the next C o ~ n c i l . ~ ~
The Council approved (December 7, 1713), and on March 11,
1713/4, William Brattle was elected fellow of the S ~ c i e t y .A~ ~
year and a half afterwards, however, the minutes of the Society's
meetings record (August 4, 1715) that, "Mr. Chamberlayne
. . . sent copys of two Letters, the one from Mr. Brattle,
declining [to] accept of the Title of member of the Society
as unqualified: . . . ,,68
JOHN LEVERETT (August 25, 1662-May 3, 1724), President
of Harvard College, politician, lawyer, and judge, was proposed
candidate (December 3, 1713) by John Chamberlayne, approved
by the Council and elected fellow simultaneously with William
Brattle. Unlike Brattle, Leverett accepted the title, and the
minutes of the Society which tell of Brattle's refusal also record:
"Mr. Chamberlayne . . . sent copys of two Letters, the one from
Mr. Brattle, . . . the other from Mr. Leverett President of Cambridge
College in New-England returning his thanks for the
respects of the Society in electing him."
HENRY BARHAM(,c . 1650-May, 1726), surgeon and naturalist,
resident of Jamaica from about 1680 until 1716 and from
65 Journal-Book, XI, 381.
66 Ibid., X1, 390.
67 Council Mins., 11, 215; Journal-Book, XI, 414.
68 Journal-Boolc, XII, 76.
1720 until his death in 1726, supplied Sir Hans Sloane with
much material for the latter's Natural History of Jamaica.6Q On
October 31, 1717, Sloane proposed "Mr. Barham lately come from
Jamaica as a very proper person to be Member of this Society
. . . . '' The Council approved of his candidacy, the Society
elected him (November 14, 1717), and he was formally admitted
fellow on November 21.70 During his residence in
Jamaica, Barham sent many curiosities and scientific communications
to the Royal S ~ c i e t y . ~B~ar ham was known to Dr.
Thomas Hoy (see above) who, jealous of Barham's close association
with Sir Hans Sloane, spoke contemptuously of them
and called Barham a "Botanist-Silk-Merchant & Miner" who
"is lately become Civil1 Magistrate & lives in hopes (I am told)
of advanceing the Justice to a Judge!"72
ELIHU YALE (April 5, 1649-July 8, 1721), merchant and
philanthropist after whom Yale College was named, was born in
Boston, became wealthy in the East Indies, and spent his later
years in England. As governor of Fort St. George, Madras
(1687-92), Yale communicated with English fellows of the
Royal S ~ c i e t ya;n~d~ i n 1717, as executor of the estate of Dr.
Thomas Paget, who left bequests to the Royal Society, members
of the Society had their attention drawn to Yale again. On
November 21, 1717, Sir Hans Sloane proposed as candidate "Mr.
Elihu Yale, Executor to Dr. Thomas Paget"; the Council
approved, and on November 30, 1717, Yale was elected fellow
of the S ~ c i e t y . ~ ~
PAUL DUDLEY (Sept. 3, 1675- Jan. 25, 175 1 ), Massachusetts
lawyer, politician, and judge, was also an able naturalist. While
studying in England, Dudley made the acquaintance of John
Chamberlayne with whom he later carried on a scientific correspondence.
On May 18, 1721, the Vice-President of the Royal
69 Dictionarv of iVatwna2 Bioarabhv.
70 ~ournal-~mXk,I I, 186, 19i, 194.-
71 Ibid., XI, 420, 470; XII, 195, 214-215 ; XIII, 227-228.
72 Hay to William Sherard, Kingston, Jamaica, Sept. 20, 1725, in
Sherard Letters (MS in R. S. Librarv). V. a% 601.
73 ~ u a r d - ~ o d(Mk S in R. S. ~ib;&;), '~16,-#4 .
74 Journal-Book, XII, 194, 195; The Record, 195.
232 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Society, Sir Hans Sloane, "cominunicated a Letter from Mr.
Chamberlayne dated the 16th of May in which he recommends
Mr. Dudley of New England for a Member. . . . "; the Council
approved on October 26, and on November 2, 1721, Dudley
was elected fellow.75 For more than twenty years he communicated
scientific treatises to the Royal Society, most of which
dealt with the natural history of New England.76
THOMASR OBIE, or ROBY (March 20, 1689-Aug. 28, 1729),
M. D., sometime librarian (1712-13) and tutor (1714-23) at
Harvard College, maintained scientific correspondence with the
Reverend William Derham, I?. R. S., who proposed Robie as
candidate to the Royal Society on January 14, 1724/5. Approved
by the Council, Robie was elected fellow of the Society,
April 15, 1725.77
ZABDIEL BOYLSTON (March 9, 1679/80-March 1, 1766),
Boston physician famed for his intelligent use of inoculation for
smallpox in 1721-22, went to England in 1725 to study "the new
method for cutting the Stone." Carrying a letter of introduction
from Cotton Mather to Dr. James Jurin, secretary of the Royal
Society, Boylston became Jurin's close friend and was guest at
meetings of the Royal Society (May, 1726). On May 26, 1726,
Boylston was recominended by Dr. J. G. ~[eigertahl for election
into the Society. The Council approved, July 7, 1726, and on
the same day Boylston was elected, signed the Obligation ancl
was formally admitted fellow of the Royal S o ~ i e t y . ~ ~
COLIN CAMPBELL, ESQ. (d. 1752), of Black River, Jamaica,
astronomer and mathematician, friend of Halley, the astronomer,
and collaborator in scientific experiments with James Bradley,
F. R. S., professor of astronomy at Oxford, was "proposed and
recommended for a Fellow by Dr. Halley, Dr. [James] Campbell,
& Mr. [Stephen] Hales, Herbalist" on November 12, 1730.
75 Journal-Book, XIII, 97, 129; Council Mins., 11, 257.
76Lists, almost complete, of Dudley's scientific communications to the
Royal Society, are given in Dean Dudley, The Dudley Gerzealogies and
Family Records (Boston, 1848), 73-74; Hisfory of the Dldley Family . . .
(2 vds. and 2 supplements. Wakefield, Mass., 1886-1901), I, 524.
77 Journal-Book, XIII, 437, 471.
78 Ibid., XIII, 584, 586-588, 602 ; Council RiIins., 11, 296.
The Council approved and Campbell was elected fellow on December
10, 1730.79
JOHN GRAY, sometime of the Navy Office, London, went to
Cartagena about 1733, probably as factor for the South Sea
Company. For five or six years he made astronomical observations,
weather observations, and collected other scientific data in
his "out of office" hours, all of which information was sent to
England for the use of English scientists of the Royal So~iety.~O
Prior to his departure from England, Gray was proposed candidate
to the Royal Society and, according to the new statute
of December 10, 1730, a certificate of recommendation was
brought in which ran as follows :
Mr. John Gray of the Navy Office, Author of a treatise
on Gunnery, a Gentleman well Skilled in Mathematical
and Experimental Knowledge and in most parts of useful1
learning desires to be a Member of this Society and is
recommended as a Candidate by us.
December 16, 1731.
Edm: Halley
John Machin
James Stirling.81
This certificate was "fixed up in the common meeting room of
the Society at tefl several ordinary meetings" from December 23,
1731, until March 9, 1731/2, and on March 16, 1731/2, Gray
was elected fellow of the Society. A week later (March 22) he
was formally admitted.
ROSE FULLER, M. D. (d. May 7, 1777), physician, naturalist,
and politician, resided at Spanish Town, Jamaica, from 1733
until 1756. Returning to England in 1756, he entered politics and
served in parliament for various constituencies between 1756 and
his death in 1777. Shortly before his departure for Jamaica,
79 Journal-Book, XIV, 513, 528; XV, 343-346; Council Mins., 111, 78.
80 Letter-Book, XXIII, 21-26 ; XXIV, 412-414 ; Journal-Book, XVI,
366-369.
81 Certificates, 1731-50 (MS in R. S. Library), 21.
234 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Fuller was proposed candidate for admission to the Royal SOciety
by the following certificate, dated January 27, 1731/2 :
Rose Fuller of Sussex M. D. a Gentleman well
Skill'd in all parts of the Mathematicks, Natural and Experimental
Philosophy, & most branches of Curious & Usefull
Learning; being desirous of becoming a Member of
this Society is proposed by us
London 27 Jan. 1731
Cadogan
Wm Sloane
John Martyns2
This certificate was displayed at meetings of the Sdiety from
February 3, 1731/2, until April 6, 1732, and Fuller was elected
April 20, 1732. On the following May 4 he was formally admitted
fellow of the Society. Reaching Jamaica the following
year, Fuller often sent scientific observations to Sir Hans Sloane
who frequently read them before the Royal S o ~ i e t y . ~ ~
WILLIAM HOUSTON, M. D. (?1695-Aug. 14, 1733), physician
and botanist,s4 having spent most of, his youth practicing
medicine in the West Indies, returned to Europe (1727) and
studied medicine at Leiden (1728-29) where he received the
M. D. in 1729. A friend of Philip Miller, the Chelsea gardener
to whom he had sent many botanical specimens from Jamaica,
Mexico, and Central America, Houston was proposed a candidate
to the Royal Society just as he set out on a botanical tour
of the West Indies sponsored by the Commissioners of Georgia.
His certificate, presented October 26, 1732, read :
William Houstoun M. D. A Gentleman well versed
in all Physical Knowledge, particularly in Botany, who has
communicated an Excellent account of the Contrayerva
(which has been printed in the Philosophical Transactions)
82 Certificates, 1731-50, 25.
83 Council Mins., IV, 167, 170-171 ; Journal-Book, XVII, 241.
s4Pdteney, Hist. and Bwg. Sketches . . . , 11, 231-234; Dict. Nart.
Biography.
and is now Set out on a Voyage to America, in Search of
the Plants & Drugs of that Country, desires to become a
Member of this Society, and is accordingly recommended
by us.
Octr. 26, 1732.
Hans Sloane
John Martyn
Peter Collinson
Philip Millers5
Houston, elected fellow on January 18, 1732/3, did not survive
his American tour to be formally admitted to the Society.
JOHN WINTHROP (1681-174,7), of New London, Connecticut,
was the son of Waitstill Winthrop and grandson of that
John Winthrop who was the first colonial fellow of the Royal
Society. Winthrop visited the Royal Society at a meeting on
January 26, 172617, at which time he presented the Society
with several curiosities from New England and New Y ~ r k . ~ ~
Again, in 1733, he was present at a meeting (November 22)s7
and on January 10, 1733/4, he was proposed as a candidate to
the Society by means of the following certificate delivered to the
Society by the Secretary, Dr. Cromwell Mortimer:
John Winthrop of New-England Esqr., Grandson of
the learned John Winthrop Esqr., who was one of the first
members of this Society, and who in conjunction with
others did greatly contribute to the obtaining our Charter:
to whom the Society in its early days was not only indebted
for various ingenious communications, but their
Museum still contains many testimonies of his generosity,
especially of things relating to the Natural history of New-
England, where he afterwards went to live. This Gentleman
hath not been backward in following the example of
his Grandfather, having himself sent over several Curiosities
to the Society, and intending to present many more,
8s Certificates, 1731-50, 34.
86 Journal-Book, XIV, 40-41.
87 Ibid., XV, 355.
WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
as well as to become a constant Correspondent; when he
returns to America. Wherefore as he desires to become a
member of this Society, and as he is a proper person well
skilled in Natural knowledge, and particularly in Chemistry,
we, whose names are underwritten do recommend him as a
person likely to be a very usefull member to this Society.
London. Jan. 10, 1733.
Hans Sloane
Alexr. Stuart
Robert Nesbitt.
Cromwell Mortimerss
Winthrop's certificate was displayed in the Society's meeting
room from January 17, 1733/4, until March 28, 1734, and on
April 4, 1734, he was elected. Three weeks later (April 25),
he presented himself at a meeting of the Society, signed the
obligation, and was admitted fellow of the S o ~ i e t y . ~O~n the
following June 27 Winthrop presented to the Society the "many
more" curiosities which he had announced it was his intention
to give. Consisting of three hundred sixty-four items, the collection
contained specimens illustrative of practically every
compartment of the natural history of New England,O0 and it
constituted for its time the largest single gift presented to the
Society. In recognition of his generosity, Winthrop, because he
had been present and formally admitted to the Society and had
been charged fees like any English fellow, was excused from
payment by a vote, July 13, 1736, wherein
The Council in consideration of the several Benefactions
made by Mr. Winthrop's Grandfather and Father; as
well as several Benefactions of his own, thought proper to
order the Bond of John Winthrop Esq. to be delivered to
him, and all Arrears and future Payments to be remitted
8s Journal-Book, XV, 356-357; Certificates, 1731-50, 54.
89 Journal-Book, XV, 410, 413.
00 See "A Catalogue of Curiosities presented to the Royal Society by John
Winthrop of New England Esqr." in Journal-Book, XV, 459-487.
to him: which was put to the Ballott, and carried unanimously
in the affirmati~e.~~
ALEXANDER MACFARLAN(Ed. 1755), of Jamaica, astronomer,
was propounded a candidate to the Royal Society, November
20, 1746, by presentation of the following certificate of
recommendation :
Mr. Alexander Macfarlane of Jamaica A Gentleman
well versed in Philosophical & Mathematical Learning, who
has the Valuable Collection of Astronomical Instruments
which was carried over there by Mr. Colin Campbell a member
of this Society, in order to make Observations to complete
the Catalogue of the Southern Constellations, We
whose names are underwritten, being either personally acquainted
with him, or believing from his Character that he
will be a useful1 and valuable Correspondent do recommend
him as every way qualified to be a member of this
Society.
London, Novr. 20, 1746.
James Short
Alexr. Ouchterlony
Richd. Graham
Peter Davall
James Burrow.
The Gentleman above mentioned having been besides
what I have understood from others, strongly recommended
by the Honble. Mr. Legge, I hereby not only Set my own
Name but also testify his desire to have Subscribed had
he been present.
Martin Folkes [President of the Society] 92
The certificate was displayed at the requisite number of meetings
of the Society between November 27, 1746, and February
91 Council Mins., 111, 167-168. The wording of this vote, as well as the
nature and extent of Winthrop's large bequest to the Society in 1734, suggests
to the present writer that the great collection represented for the most
part specimens brought together by his father and grandfather: in short, it
was the Winthrop family museum of New England rarities.
92 Certificates, 1731-50, 341 ; Journal-Book, XX, 152-153.
238 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
12, 1746/7, and at the meeting of February 19, 1746/7, Macfarlane
was elected fellow of the Society?% He had already
(1744) communicated to the Royal Society astronomical observations
which he had made in Jamaica in 1743-44,94 and he continued
to transmit reports of his observations until his death.
GRIFFITH HUGHES (fl. 1750), rector of the Parish of St.
Lucy's, Barbados, and author of The Natural History of Barbados.
In Ten Books. (London, 1750), was proposed "for a
Candidate and a ,Certificate dated 25th Febry. 174Yg5 (1747/8)
was presented on his behalf at a meeting of the Society, March
3, 1747/8. The certificate in the Royal Society Library, however,
is dated as of the day presented and reads as follows:
The Revd. Mr. Griffith Hughes Rector of St. Lucy's
in Barbados now residing in London:
This Gentleman having resided several years in the
Island of Barbados, the Natural History of which place he
had diligently enquired into & communicated some observations
to the Royal S ~ c i e t yi,s~ d~e sirous of the Honour of
becoming a member of the Same, Wherefore We, out of
our personal Knowledge of him and thinking him well
93 Journal-Book, XX, 207.
94 Zbid., XIX, 309-310.
95 Ibid., XX, 463.
96 Another prospective colonial correspondent was proposed candidate to
the Society but never elected. Between the election of Alexander Macfarlane
and the Rev. Mr. Hughes, Rowland Jackson, M.D., "now going to reside in
the island of St. Christopher's" was proposed (Oct. 22, 1747) by a certificate
dated at London, Oct. 22, 1747, and signed by Stephen Hales, R. Mead, and
President Martin Folkes. The certificate was displayed at the requisite
number of meetings and Jackson visited the Society as guest of President
Folkes on November 26, 1747. Before the Society voted for his election,
however, Jackson had departed, probably for St. Christopher's; and oh
January 21, 1747/8, "The Society being acquainted that Dr. Rowland Jackson
formerly proposed as a Candidate was gone abroad, and that there was some
defect in his recommendation, it was ordered that his election should be
postponed." There is no record to show that Jackson's candidacy was ever
revived. Journal-Book, XX, 317, 353, 423; Certificates, 1731-50, 357; Munk,
The Roll of the Royal College of Pkysicia~as, 11, 276-277.
qualified to be a useful member, do accordingly recommend
him as a Candidate.
London, March 3, 1747/8.
Cromwell Mortimer
Stephen Hales
M. Folkes
H. Baker
Emmanuel Mendes da Costa.97
Between March 10 and May 26 the certificate was displayed
at the requisite number of meetings of the Society and the
Reverend Mr. Hughes was elected fellow, June 9, 1748.98 Parts
of his Natural History of Barbados were read before the Society
in March, 1749, and a copy of it was presented to the
Society (May 24, 1750) .99
JOHN MITCHELL, M. D. (d. 1768), of Urbanna, Virginia,
and London, physician, botanist, and author, practiced "physic"
for about twenty years in Virginia (c. 1725-1746). He communicated
to the Royal Society of London specimens illustrative
of the natural history of Virginia and several scientific
papers before ill health caused him to retire to London in 1746.
In London, he frequently visited meetings of the Royal Society
in 1746-48, several times as guest of Mark Catesby whom
he had known in America.loO At a meeting of the Society, June
9, 1748, Dr. Mitchell was proposed candidate by presentation of
the following certificate on his behalf:
John Mitchell of Catherine Street London Doctor of
Physick. A Gentleman of great merit and Learning, who
Sometime since communicated to the Royal Society a very
curious dissertation concerning the Colour of the skin in
Negroes, and who from his long residence in Virginia, &
from his great application to the Study of Natural History,
97 Certificates, 1731-50, 366.
98 Journal-Book, XX, 527.
99 Zbid., XXI, 69-71, 85-86, 354. The copy of Hughes's Natural History
is still in the library of the Royal Society.
100 Journal-Book, XX, 166, 171, 176, 187, 191, 212, 223, 523.
especially Botany, is very well acquainted with the Vegetable
production of North America, being desirous of being admitted
a fellow of the Royal Society, is recommended by
us from our personal knowledge of him as highly deserving
the Honour he desires, as we believe he will be (if
chosen) a useful1 and valuable member of our Body.
London, June 9, 1748.
Cromwell Mortimer
William Watson
Thos. Birch
Richd. Graham
Mark Catesby
M. Folkes.lol
This certificate having been displayed at ten consecutive meetings
of the Society between June 16 and December 8, Dr. Mitchell
was elected December 15, 1748; and, having signed the
obligation, given bond for payment of contributions, and paid
the admission fee, he was formally admitted fellow on December
22, 1748.1°2
JAMES EDWARD OGLETHORPE (Dec. 22, 1696-July 1, 1785),
soldier, politician, reformer, and philanthropist. As the foremost
"trustee" for Georgia, Oglethorpe was founder of Savannah
and the prime supporter of the infant Georgia colony in its
early years. Financial difficulties and English political troubles
prevented his return to Georgia after 1743 and he spent the
remainder of his life in England. He was recommended as
candidate to the Royal Society on April 6, 1749, and the following
certificate was exhibited on his behalf:
The Honble. Lieutenant General James Oglethorpe of
Lisle Street, London. A gentleman well versed in Natural
History, Mathematicks, and all branches of Polite Literature,
being desirous of becoming a Member of the Royal
Society, We whose Names are underwritten do from our
personal knowledge of him and his great merits recom-
101 Certificates, 1731-50, 372.
102 Journal-Book, XXI, 14, 17.
mend him as one who will be a usefull member & every
way qualified to promote the designs of our Institution.
London, April 6, 1749.
Wm. Hanbury.
Cromwell Mortimer.
P. Collinson.
M. Catesby.
Hans Sloane.
Cadogan.
M. Folkes.103
Oglethorpe visited the Society in the summer of 1749 (June
15) as guest of President F ~ l k e s , ~an~d* t he following November
9 he was elected member. A week later (November 16) he was
present at a meeting of the Society, signed the obligation, gave the
usual bond, paid the admission fee, and was admitted fellow of
the Society.lo5
HENRY ELLIS (Aug. 29, 1721- Jan. 21, ISM), hydrographer,
politician, and colonial governor, was author of The Voyage to
Hudson's Bay . . . for Discovering a North West Passage (London,
1745) and was appointed governor of Georgia (1757), an
office which he filled with much success until ill health compelled
him to return to England in 1760. Prior to this appointment,
Ellis had been proposed (November 9, 1749) a candidate for
membership in the Royal Society and the following certificate
was presented in his favor:
Mr. Henry Ellis, Author of the Account of the late
Voyage to Hudsons Bay for the discovery of a North West
Passage to India, and now commander of a Ship in the
African Trade, desiring to oger himself a candidate for
election into this Royal Society: We do hereby propose
him, and upon our own personal Knowledge recommend
103 Certificates, 1731-50, 396; Journal-Book, XXI, 92.
104 Journal-Book, XXI, 139.
105 Ibid., XXI, 162, 167.
WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
him, as a Gentleman of merit, of great curiosity, and an
uncommon zeal for the making of discoveries, and promoting
Natural History, Geography, and Navigation, and who
will therefore we doubt not be a usefull and valuable Member
of the Society.
London, Novr. 9, 1749.
C. Stanhope
M. Folkes
H. Baker
W. Watson106
The certificate having been displayed at meetings of the Society
from November 16, 1749, until February 1, 1749/50, Ellis was
elected fellow of the Society, February 8, 1749/50. As governor
of Georgia (1757-60), Ellis sent to John Ellis, F. R. S.,
the London merchant (evidently no kinsman), many scientific
observations relating to the climate and natural history of
Georgia. Several of these communications were read before
the Royal Society.lo7
FRANCIS FAUQUIER ( ?1704-March 3, 1768), business man
and author, was appointed lieutenant-governor of Virginia in
1758. Actually, however, he acted as governor of Virginia during
the following decade, as his nominal superiors had no share
in the administration of the colonial government. At a meeting
of the Royal Society, November 16, 1752, Fauquier was recommended
as a candidate for membership and the following certificate
was posted on his behalf:
Francis Fauquier Esqr. of Argyle Street, A Gentleman
of great merit, well versed in Philosophical & Mathematical
inquiries, and a great promoter of useful1 Learning,
& the Advancement of Natural Knowledge, being
desirous to be admitted into the Royal Society, we do
hereby upon our personal knowledge recommend him, as
106 Certificates, 1731-50, 408.
107 Journal-Book, XXIV, 118-121, 184-185.
likely to become a useful1 & valuable Member of our Body.
London, Novr. 16, 1752.
George Bell .--
James Burrow
Francis Wollaston
Wm Heberden
Wm Fauquier
Wm Watson
Tho: Birch
Israel Mauduit
Cha : Cavendish
Dan'l Wray
Peter Davall
P. Burrell
J. Theobald108
The certificate was exhibited at the usual number of meetings
between November 23, 1752, and February 8, 1753, and Fauquier
was elected fellow of the Royal Society, February 15,
1753. Eauquier had a brother, William Fauquier, who was
fellow of the Royal Society in London and to whom he sent
scientific observations from Virginia which sometimes were
presented before the Society.log
ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS (c. 1700-Jan. 27, 1764), of New
York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, colonial magistrate, judge,
and governor of Pennsylvania (1754-56). Having been in
England for several years (1749-54) before his appointment as
governor of Pennsylvania, Morris was recommended candidate
for membership in the Royal Society on March 6, 1755, by the
following certificate :
The Honourable Robert Hunter Morris Esqr. Governor
of Pensilvania, a Gentleman studious of promoting
Natural and Experimental Knowledge and of Communicating
to this Society any curious or useful Observations that
108 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged, # 5.
109 Journal-Book, XXIV, 179.
244 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
may arise within the said Province is desirous of becoming a
Member and is hereby recommended by us as personally
known and well deserving of that Honour.
London, 6 March, 1755.
Tylney [Earl of Tilney]
Smart Lethieullier
W. Parker
John Thomas Batt
Cha : Morton.llo
This certificate was posted at the Society's meetings from
March 13 until June 5, and on June 12, 1755, Governor Morris
was elected fellow of the Royal Society.ll1 A visitor in England
in 1759, Morris appeared before the Society and was
formally admitted fellow as is testified by the minutes of the
meeting held February 15, 1759 :
Robert Hunter Morris Esqr. a Gentleman Elected
some time Since, having paid his Admission Fee, and also
Twenty Guineas for the use of the Society in lieu of
Contributions, Signed the Obligation and was admit'ted a
Fellow of the Society.l12
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (Jan. 17, 1706-April 17, 1790), of
Philadelphia, well known as author, inventor, statesman, diplomat,
scientist, and philanthropist, had had scientific communications
with English fellows of the Royal Society, particularly with
Peter Collinson, before he was elected fellow of the Society.
At the Anniversary Meeting of the Society, November 30, 1753,
the Earl of Macclesfield, president of the Society, announced
that the recipient of the Copley Medal annually awarded by the
Society was
Benjamin Franklin Esquire of Philadelphia in America
on Account of his Curious Experiments and Observations
on Electricity . . . for though he be not a Fellow of this
110 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged; Journal-Book, XXIII, 75.
111 Ibid., XXIII, 156.
112 Ibid., XXIV, 240.
Society nor an Inhabitant of this Island, [he] is a Subject
of the Crown of Great Britain and must be acknowledged
to have deserved well of the Philosophical World
and of this learned Body in particular . . . .'I3
More than two years passed after Franklin was awarded the
Copley Medal before he was recommended for membership in
the Royal Society. Then, at a meeting of the Society, January
29, 1756, "Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia Esquire was
proposed as a Candidate for Election into the Society and a
Certificate in his favour dated 29th January 1756, . . . was
read, and ordered to be put up according to the Statute."l14
The certificate read as follows:
Benjamin Franklin Esqr of Philadelphia, a gentleman
who has very eminently distinguished himself by various
discoveries in Natural philosophy, & who first Suggested
the experiments to prove the analogy between
lightning & Electricity, being desirous of being elected a
fellow of the royal Society, is recommended by us in Consideration
of his great Merit & of his many Communications
as highly deserving the honour he desires.
London 29 January 1756.
Macclesfield
Parker
Willoughby
I?. Collinson
W. Watson
Tho. Birch
James Parsons
Jno. Canton.l15
Franklin's certificate was exhibited at meetings of the Society
from February 5 until April 8 and at a meeting on April 29,
1756, "Benjamin Franklin Esqr. of Philadelphia, a Gentleman
113 Journal-Book, XXII, 410-422.
114 Ibid., XXIII, 255.
115 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged; Weld, Hist. of the R. S., 11, 8n.
246 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
formerly proposed, was put to the Balot and Elected a Fellow
of the Society."116 Before Franklin could have acknowledged
the honor which had been conferred upon him, the Council of
the Society, at a meeting held July 15, 1756, upon the motion
of William Watson voted "in the Affirmative nemine contradicente"
that
. . . the Name of Mr. Benjamin Franklin who has deserved
so highly of the Society, and whose affairs oblige
him to reside at Philadelphia, be inserted in the Lists
before his Admission and without any Fee, or other payment
to the Society, And that such Name be continued in
the Lists, So long as he shall continue to reside Abroad.l17
In the following year colonial business took Franklin to London,
and the minutes of the meeting of the Royal Society for November
24, 1756, record that, "Benjai~lin Franklin Esqr. of
Philadelphia, a Gentleman formerly Elected, and whose Name
had been ordered to be printed in the List without any Fee or
other payment to the Society, on account of his having deserved
highly of it, Signed the Obligation, and was admitted a Fellow."
118
Thereafter, while he was in England Franklin frequently
attended and took an active part in the meetings of the Society.
In 1769 (November 20) he was appointed one of the auditors
of the Society's account^,"^' and at the election on November
30, 1760, he was elected to the Council for the following year,lZ0
an office to which he was re-elected in 1766, 1767, and 1772.lZ1
JOHN MORGAN, ill. D. (June 10, 1735-Oct. 15, 1789), of
Philadelphia, physician, founder of the Medical School of the
University of Pennsylvania, nledical director of the Continental
Army, and professor of medicine in the College of Philadelphia,
116 "T -o urnal-Book. XXIII. 347. ~ --- -
117 Council Mins.', IV, 176. ~ 11s Journal-Book, XXIII, 627-628.
119 Ibid., XXIV, 113 (mispaged).
120 Council Mins.. IV. 277.
121 bid., V, 156 ff ; VI, passim.
was recommended as candidate to the Royal Society of London,
December 6, 1764, by the following certificate:
London 29th Novemr. 1764
We whose names are underwritten, from our Acquaintance
with him, his good character & Abilities, beg
leave to recommend to the Royal Society of London, John
Morgan of Philadelphia, M. D., as a person duly qualified
to be received as a Member into this Society. He is acquainted
with several Branches of Philosophical and polite
Literature, & particularly is a zealous Inquirer into Anatomical
& Physiological Subjects. He is well known, as well
personally as by his Writings, to Many of the Celebrated
Authors both in Italy & France, who by their Discoveries
& Publications have contributed to an Improvement of these
Sciences. He has been made a Correspondent Member
of the Royal Academy of Surgery at Paris for his Qualifications
in Anatomy, Nor is his Acquaintance with the
above mentioned subjects unknown to several persons of the
most distinguished Character in those Branches of Medical
Knowledge in this City.
These Considerations we hope will entitle him to the
honour he aspires at, of being inrolled amongst the worthy
Members of this Illustrious Body, which their Suffrages
will inspire him with the highest Ambition to merit.
Silvanus Bevan
P. Collinson
John Fothergill
M. Akenside
Alexr. Russell
Gowin Knight
Daniel C. Solander
John Pringle
James Ferguson
Edw. Barry
Jas. Short
John Ellis122
122 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged; Journal-Book, XXVI, 172-173.
248 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Such a distinguished list of names as those signed to Morgan's
certificate was enough to insure his election to the Royal Society,
and on March 7, 1765, after his certificate had been exhibited
before meetings of the Society from December 13, 1764, until
February 28, 1765, Morgan was elected fel10w.l~~H e sent full
payment of his fees to the Society by one Mr. Samuel Powel
"& desired admission whenever his affairs required his presence
in England."124 There appears to be no record of his formal
admittance into the Society.
JOHN TENNENT, M. D. (fl. 1725-1768), of Virginia and
New York, conducted scientific correspondence, mostly relating
to the medical virtues of American herbs, with Sir Hans Sloane
and other fellows of the Royal Society in England and America
for many years prior to his election into the Royal Society.
Being in London in 1765, his English friends recommended him
as a candidate to the Royal Society on March 7 and posted
the following certificate in his favor :
February 23,' 1765.
We, whose names are here subscribed, do, on our
personal knowledge, recommend John Tennent M. D. of
New York, who is desirous of the honour of being a
Fellow of the Royal Society; inasmuch as we think him a
Gentleman well vers'd in Medical & Natural Science, &
likely to be a valuable & useful .member of the Society.
London March 7, 1765.
M. Akenside
Alexr. Russell
John Fothergill
Samuel Chandler
Tho: Birch
P. C01linson.l~~
123 Journal-Book, XXVI, 237. Morgan was present as a guest at meetings
of the Society in the autumn of 1764 and early winter (to Feb. 7), 1765.
See ibid., XXVI, 163 ff.
124 Memorandum by the Secretary of the Society at the bottom of Morgan's
certificate.
125 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged. Tennent was present at several meetings
of the Society in the late winter and spring of 1765, usually as guest of
Thomas Birch. See the Journal-Book, XXVI, 227, 236 ff.
From March 14 until June 6 Tennent's certificate was exhibited
at the Society's meetings, and he was elected, June 13, 1765.
At the next meeting (June 20, 1765) he presented himself to
the Society, paid the admission fee and twenty guineas in lieu
of contributions, signed the obligation, and was formally admitted
fellow of the Society.126
JOHN WINTHROP (Dec. 19, 1714-May 3, 1779), of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, physicist and astronomer, was Hollis
Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Harvard
College from 1738 until his death. Having previously transmitted
to the Royal Society several scientific communications,
Professor Winthrop was proposed a candidate for membership
by Benjamin Franklin on June 27, 1765, and a certificate was
presented which read :
John Winthrop, Esqr. Professor of Mathematics and
Natural Philosophy in Harvard College at Cambridge in
New England, being desirous of becoming a Member of
the Royal Society, we the Subscribers to whom he is
known personally or by his ingenious Writings communicated
from time to time to this Society, do recommend
him as worthy that Honour.
London June 27, 1765.
B. Franklin
Ja. Short
Tho. Birch
John Canton
Cha : Morton127
As the Society adjourned for its usual summer recess Winthrop's
certificate was not officially displayed at a meeting until
November 7. By February 6, 1766, it had been exhibited for the
requisite number of times, but at the next meeting of the Society
(February 13) the election was left, "There not being
a sufficient number of Members remaining to make further
128 Journal-Book, XXVI, 282, 288.
127 Ibid., XXVI, 290; Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged. Winthrop's certificate
is written in Franklin's hand.
250 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Elections, Mr. Grossley and Mr. Winthrop whose Elections were
to have come regularly this day could not be ballotted for."128
On February 20, 1766, however, the ballot was taken, and
Professor Winthrop was elected fellow of the Society.129 A
note at the bottom of his certificate records that: "Benj. Franklin
signed a Bond for him for his Contributions & paid his
admission fee in November 1767."
ARTHUR LEE, M. D. (Dec. 21, 1740-Dec. 12, 1792), of
Lansdowne, Middlesex County, Virginia, physician, politician,
lawyer, and diplomat, was guest, usually of Benjamin Franklin,
at meetings of the Royal Society in 1765 and 1766. He was
recommended for election into the Society, February 20, 1766,
and the following certificate was presented in his behalf:
Arthur Lee M. D. a Gentleman of Virginia now
residing in London whom we esteem for his Learning, Ingenuity,
& Knowledge in Natural Philosophy being desirous
of becoming a Member of this Society, We do from our
personal Knowledge beg leave to recommend him as worthy
that Honour, and one who is likely to be a useful Member.
London 20 February 1766
B. Franklin
John Fothergill
Jas. Short
Ja: Hawley
W. Watson
Israel Mauduit
Cardross.131
Lee's certificate was exhibited at the Society from February
27 to May 15 and he was elected fellow, May 29, 1766.132 He
did not appear to be formally admitted at once, however, and
"Benjamin Franklin L.L.D signed a Bond for him for his
128 Journal-Book, XXVI, 374.
129 Ibid., XXVI, 375.
130 Ibid., XXVI, 267 ff.
131 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged. The certificate is written in Franklin's
hand.
132 Journal-Book, XXVI, 436.
133 Memorandum at the bottom of Lee's certificate.
Contributions & paid his Admission fee in December 1767." On
November 10, 1768, the minutes of the Royal Society record that
"Dr. Lee of North America, formerly elected of this Society;
and for whom Dr. Franklin F. R. S. had paid the Admission
fee, and given bond for the payment of Contributions; signed
the obligation in the Charter book, and was admitted Fellow."1s4
Shortly afterwards (December 6, 1768)
The bond of Dr. Benjamin Franklin given March 11th
1766 for the payment of Contributions to the Society by
Dr. Arthur Lee F.R.S. was taken out of the strong box,
and a bond lately executed by Dr. Lee himself for payment
of the said Contributions was put into the strong
box, in the place of the former: and it was ordered that
Dr. Franklin's bond be delivered up to him.135
Despite his bond, Dr. Lee was not always punctual in paying
his contributions to the Society. During the years immediately
after his admission (1769-1 775) he often attended meetings of
the Society, but being "one of the firmest patriots of the
Rev.01ution"~h~e~ n eglected his membership in the Royal Society
after the Declaration of Independence, permitted large arrears
to accumulate against his name and, when the Society reminded
him of his debts, seized upon his new nationality to evade
payment and terminated his fellowship in the Society. All this
appears in the minutes of the Council of the Royal Society for
January 17, 1788, when
The President laid before the Council a Letter from
Dr. Arthur Lee in answer to an official intimation from the
Clerk reminding him of the considerable arrears he owed
to the Society. The Dr. in this Letter declaring that from
the time of the establishment of the American Independence
he had considered himself as no longer a fellow of the
134 Journal-Book, XXVII, 119.
135 Council Mins., V, 341-342.
136 Alexander Garden, Anecdotes of the Americcrm Revolzltiolr
(Charleston, S. C., 1&28), 4.
252 WII,I,IAI~ AXD MARY QUARTERLY
Royal Society and had therefore suspended the payment
of his Contributions.
Resolved, That this Letter be considered as Dr. Lee's
resignation of his fellowship in the Society, and that his
name he accordingly henceforth left out of the printed
1 i ~ t . l ~ ~
Thus, after January, 1758, Lee was no longer fellow of the
Royal Society.
DAVID RIZ, of Jamaica and London, merchant, attended
meetings of the Royal Society in 1765 and early in 1766 as
guest of Benjamin Franklin, Dr. James Parsons, and others.138
On February 27, 1766, he was proposed a candidate to the Society
and a certificate was presented in his favor as follows:
Mr. David Riz, of Jamaica, Merchant, now in London,
St. Mary L\se. Being very Desirous of the honour
of Election into the Royal Society, we the underwritten
Recommend him by our Personal knowledge as greatly conversant
in hlechanics & Natural Philosophy & as one who
has made several discoverys of Public & Universal Advantage,
and we think him likely to Prove a Valuable and
Useful Member.
London, Feb. 27, 1766.
Cardross
Cha : Carlisle
Henry Baker
James Parsons
M. Maty
J. Wilkinson
Joseph Sa1vado1-139
Between hlarch 6 and May 29 his certificate was exhibited before
the Society and on June 5, 1766, he was elected. Two
weeks later (June 19) he appeared before the Society, paid the
137 Council Mins., VI, 291-292.
138 Journal-Book, XXVI, 324, 397, 407 ff.
139 Certificates, 1751-66, unpaged ; Journal-Book, XXVI, 384.
usual fees, gave bond to insure payment of contributions, signed
the obligation, and was formally admitted fellow of the Royal
Society.140 During the next five years he frequently attended
the meetings of the Society. In 1769, however, the Council was
compelled to solicit him for payment of arrears in contributions.
Mr. Riz notified the Society that his delay in payment
was occasioned by his disappointment in collecting money owed
him, that he would pay as soon as p0ssib1e.l~~ But he did not
pay and his debts to the Society multiplied. Finally, on April .
10, 1783,
The President acquainted the Society that the Council
having found that Mr. David Riz F.R.S. notwithstanding
repeated applications had neglected to pay his annual
contributions so that his arrears amounted now to 235.16s.
had this day come to the following Resolution:
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of the Council that
the Ejection of Mr. David Riz will be for the benefit of
the Society as proper example to enforce a due Observance
of their Statutes.
That the President be desired to propose at the next
Meeting his Ejection and to give the Society notice thereof
at this night's meeting. The President gave this notice
accordingly
At a meeting of the Society, May 1, 1783, the fellows voted in
favor of the Council's recommendation and the President solemnly
declared "that Mr. David Riz was no longer a fellow of
the Society, and erased his Name out of the Charter Book."143
JOHN MARTIN BUTT, M. D. (d. 1769), of Jamaica, was
recommended as candidate to the Royal Society, November 20,
1766, and a certificate was presented in his favor signed by
140 Journal-Book, XXVI, 440, 451.
141 Council Mins., VI, 15 (.Feb. 23, 1769).
142 Ibid., VII, 131. Previous actions concerning Riz are recorded in
dbid., VII, 1, 108-109, 111, 115; Journal-Bwk, XXXI, 360-361.
143 Ibid., XXXI, 368.
254 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Cardross, Charles Carlisle, David Riz, and Matthew M a t ~ . l ~ ~
After the usual period of probation, the Society voted in his
favor (February 26, 1767) and elected him fel10w.l~~ On
March 18, 1767, he paid "the full sum of thirty one Guineas for
admission fee and Composition money" and was formally admitted
fellow of the S 0 ~ i e t y . l ~ ~
THOMAS LASHLEY, M. D. (d. 1807), of Barbados, physician,
was proposed a candidate to the Royal Society, April 21,
1768, the certificate on his behalf being as follows:
Thomas Lashley M.D. of Barbadoes being desirous
of the honour of being admitted a fellow of the Royal Society,
we whose names are here subscribed do, on our
personal knowledge, recommend Him as a gentleman well
vers'd in all medical & Natural knowledge & likely to be
an useful member of the Society.
March 29, 1768.
M. Akenside
Joseph Warner
Alexr. Russell
N. Munckley
William Hunter.147
The certificate was exhibited at meetiilgs of the Society from
April 28 to the following November 17, and on November 24,
1768, Dr. Lashley was elected fellow of the Society. A few
weeks later (December 8, 1768)
Nicholas Munckley M.D. having paid for the use of
the Society in the name of Dr Lashley of Barbadoes
(lately elected fellow), the sum of thirty one Guineas for
admission fee and contribution money, it was moved and
ordered that Dr. Lashley's name be printed in the en-
144 Journal-Book, XXVI, 472. Dr. Butt's certificate does not appear
among the others preserved in the Royal Society Archives.
145 Ibid., XXVI, 549.
146 Ibid., XXVII, 122; Council Mins., V, 334.
147 Journal-Book, XXVII, 80; Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged.
suing lists; and that he be admitted when his affairs
allow him to be present.148
Not until November 25, 1784, did Dr. Lashley's affairs permit
him to be present at a meeting of the Royal Society: but at
that time "Dr. William Lashley long since elected into the
Society attended this meeting & having signed the Obligation
in the Charter Book was admitted a Fellow of the Society."149
The records reveal that during the next two years he was in
London and occasionally attended meetings of the Society.150
THOMAS POWNALL (1722-Feb. 25, 1805), colonial governor
and author of Tlze Administration of the Colonies (1764), was
lieutenant-governor of New Jersey (1753-58), governor of
Massachusetts (1757-59), and governor of South Carolina
(1759-60). Some time after his return to England (1760),
Pownall was recommended for membership in the Royal
Society (January 16, 1772), and the following certificate was
presented in his favor :
Thomas Pownall Esqr of Albemarle Street, a gentleman
well versed in polite literature, natural philosophy,
and other branches of science that are the objects of the
enquiries of the Royal Society, being desirous to be admitted
thereunto; We, upo'n our personal knowledge,
recommend him as one who is very likely to prove an
useful member.
Read Jan'y 16,1772.
C. Wintringham
Noah Thomas
G. Baker
Jos'h Colebrooke
Jos : Ayloffe
Thos. Astle
Thos. Morelllsl
14s Tournal-Book. XXVII. 136.
149 ibid., XXXII, 9.
150 Ibid., XXXII, 149, 177, 286.
151 Ibid., XXVII, 564; Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged.
256 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Between January 23 and April 2 the certificate was displayed
at the Society's meetings, and on April 9, 1772, Pownall was
voted into the Society. A few weeks later (May 7, 1772) he
appeared before the Society, paid the usual fees, gave bond for
payment of contributions, signed the obligation, and was formally
admitted.lb2 In 1789, however, he wrote to the President
of the Society (August 14) asking to be permit'ted to
withdraw from the Society, a request which was immediately
granted.lE3
TESSER SAMUEL KUKHAN (d. 1776), of London and
Jamaica, naturalist and taxidermist, assisted the Natural History
Co'mmittee of the Royal Society in preserving specimens
in the Society's "Repository" and, as he was about to go to the
West Indies, was recommended for membership in the Society
on the Foreign List, November 12, 1771. The certificate read
in his favor was as follows:
Mr. T. S. Kukhan, a Gentleman well versed in Natural
History, and already known to the Royal Society and
to the Publick by his curious observations on the best
methods of preserving birds, and the Specimens he has
given of his skill in preparing several of them, and in
readjusting some animals which were much damaged in
the Society's Museum, being desirous of being elected one
of the foreign members, is recommended by us on our
perso'nal knowledge of his merit and abilities as likely to
become a most useful Member by th,e opportunities he
may have in America to send many valuable productions
in a perfect state.
Novr. 12, 1771
Daines Barrington Le Prince de Masseran
Marmaduke Tunstall John Henry Hampe
M. Maty Dan. Solander.15'
152 Journal-Book, XXVII, 615, 622.
153 Council Mins., VI, 325-326; Journal Book, XXXIV, 18.
154 Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged.
After his candidacy had undergone the usual period of probation,
Mr. Kukhan was elected fellow of the Royal Society on
the Foreign List, June 4, 1772.
JOHN GREG (fl. 1765), of the Island of Dominica,155 was
proposed a candidate for election into the Royal Society
(March 26, 1772) and a certificate was presented in his favor
which read as follows:
London the 19th of March 1772
We the Underwritten Members of the Royal Society
from our personal knowledge of John Greg Esqr
of Dominica, do recommend him as a Gentleman extremely
well qualified to become a useful1 member of
this Society.
Read March 26, 1772.
Hillsborough
Jos. Banks
Dan. Solander
John ElliP6
The certificate having been displayed before the Society at
meetings extending from April 2 until June 25, Greg was
elected (July 9, 1772) and formally admitted fellow of the
Society, November 26, 1772.157
PETER LIVIUS (1727-July 23, 1795), of Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, colonial magistrate, Royalist, chief justice of
Canada (1777-86), was proposed a candidate to the Royal Society
on January 28, 1773, and the following certificate was
exhibited on his behalf :
Jany. 27, 1773.
Peter Livius Esqr of New Hampshire in America a
Gentleman well versed in various branches of Science &
155 Perhaps he was the South Carolinian whose letter John Ellis, F. R. S.,
read to the Society (Dec. 22, 1763) containing "a short account of a new
species of Pennatula which he received from Mr. John Greg of Charle Town,
South Carolina." Journal-Book, XXVI, 16.
156 Certificates, 1767-75, unpaged ; Journal-Book, XXVII, 597.
157 Journal-Book, XXVII, 655, 673.
258 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
who hath lately presented to the Society a very valuable
specimen of the horns of the American elk, being desirous
of becoming a Member of the Royal Society, We the
underwritten do on ou'r personal knowledge recommend
him as highly deserving of that honour.
Read Jany. 28, 1773.
Daines Barrington
Sam1 Wegg
Marmaduke Tunstall
John Frere168
The above testimonial was displayed at meetings of the Society
from February 4, 1773, until April 22, and Livius was elected,
April 29, 1773. At a meeting of the Society, July 1, 1773, Mr.
Livius, "formerly elected into the Society, and who had paid
his admission fee and given the usual Bond, signed the obligation
in the Charter Book, and was admitted Fellow."159
ALEXANDER GARDEN, M. D. (c. 1730-April 15, 1791), of
Prince William Parish, South Carolina, physician and naturalist,
travelled widely in the American colonies and held
scientific correspondence with many eminent scientists both
in the Old World and the New. As guest of Peter Collinson
and other fellows, he attended meetings of the Royal Society in
1757, 1760, and 1761.160 He was recommended as a candidate
for election into the Society on March 4, 1773, and the following
certificate was read in his favor:
Alexander Garden M.D. of Charles Town South Carolina,
A Gentleman very well known for his many new
and curious discoveries in Natural History, being very
desirous of becoming a Member of the Royal Society, We
from his general good Character and his publications, do
158 Journal-Book, XXVIII, 55 ; Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged.
159 Ibid., XXVIII, 119, 168.
160 Ibid., XXIV, 15, 559, 92 (mispaged) ; XXV, 15.
recommend him as likely to prove a very useful one.
Read March 4, 1773.
W. Pitcairn
John Ellis .
Daniel Solander
Cha: Morton
Daines Barrington
M. Maty
B. Franklin
Thomas Penhart
C. Blagden161
His certificate having been exhibited before the Society at
meetings from March 11 to May 27, Dr. Garden was elected
fellow, June 10, 1773. The minutes of the Society's meeting
for the following June 24 record that:
Dr. Garden of America, lately elected, having caused to
be paid his admission fee, and the further sum of twenty
six Guineas, ordered that his name be printed in the
~ i s t sa;n d that he be admitted when it is convenient to
him to attend the Society.la2
Dr. Garden did not find it convenient personally to attend the
Society until almost a decade later. Then, having been banished
from South Carolina for his Royalism during the American
Revolution, he visited the Royal Society at a meeting held
on May 15, 1783, the minutes for which announce that:
Dr. Alexander Garden of Charles Town South Carolina
who had been formerly elected and paid his admission fee
& Compo'unded for annual Contributions, attended at this
h;ieeting and having signed the Obligation in the Charter
Book was admitted a Fellow of the Society.lss
161 Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged ; Journal-Book, XXVIII, 88-89.
162 Ibid., XXVIII, 159.
163 Ibid., XXXI, 373-374.
260 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
Dr. Garden resided in England until his death in 1791 and,
until 1788, he was a regular and active attendant at the meetings
of the Royal Society. On November 20, 1783, he was
appointed one of the auditors of the treasurer's accounts for
the year, and a few days afterwards he was elected a member
of the Council of the Society for 1783-84, an office to which he
was reelected for 1784-85.1e4
JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM, M. D. (Nov. 27, 1744-Nov. 1,
1815), eminent London physician, naturalist, author, reformer,
and philanthropist, was born in Little Jost van Dyke Island
and spent his early boyhood in Tortola Island, both of the
Virgin Islands group. Though he resided in England for most
of his life, he always considered himself a West Indian and was
well known to many colonials who visited London, particularly
Benjamin Franklin. On April 29, 1773, Dr. Lettsom was
recommended for membership in the Royal Society and the
tollowing certificate was read in his behalf:
April 28, 1773.
We whose names are underwritten, being Members
of the Royal Society, do on our personal knowledge
recommend Dr. John Coakley Lettsom, of Great Eastcheap,
as a Gentleman well qualified to make a useful
member of this Society.
Read April 29, 1773.
B. Franklin
Wm Watson Jr.
John Ellis
J. Colebrook
Dan. Solander
J. James
Mar: Tunstall
James Ferguson.
The certificate was exhibited at meetings of the Society from
May 6 until Xovember 11, and Dr. Lettsom was elected, paid
164 Journal-Book, XXXI, 426 ; Council Mins., VI, 151 ff.
his admission fee, gave the usual bond, signed the obligation,
and was formally admitted fellow of the Royal Society,
November 18, 1773.1s5
JOHN TAYLOR, afterwards Sir John Taylor, 1st Baronet (d.
May 8, 1786), "of Lysson Hall in the Island of Jamaica," was
proposed a candidate for membership in the Royal Society,
February 8, 1776. A certificate presented in his favor read
as follows :
John Taylor Esqr of Jamaica & Grafton Street, a
gentleman well versed in many branches of polite Literature,
being desirous of admission into the Royal Society,
We the underwritten do on our personal knowledge
recommend him as a gentleman well qualified to become a
valuable & useful1 Member.
Read Feby. 8, 1776.
Seaf orth
Musgrave
Thos. Dundas
Will Roy
J. Lloyd
Richd : Henry Alexr : Bennet
J. Carnac
Jos: Banks
0. Salisbury B r e r e t ~ n . ~ ~ ~
His certificate having been exhibited at meetings of the Society
from February 15 until May 2, Taylor was elected, May 9,
1776. On June 20 following he appeared at the meeting of the
Society, paid his admission fee and twenty-six guineas in lieu
of contributions, signed the obligation, and was formally admitted
fellow of the Royal S 0 ~ i e t y . l ~ ~
WILLIAM WRIGHT, M. D., (March, 1735-Sept. 19, 1819), of
Hampden, Trelawney, Jamaica, Barbados, and Edinburgh,
165 Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged; J. J. Abraham, Lettsom: His Life,
Times, Friends and Descendants (London, 1933), passim.
166 Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged; Journal-Book, XXIX, 29.
167 Ibid., XXIX, 104, 134.
262 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
eminent physician and botanist, served as physcian in the
British Navy in the West Indies (c. 1760-63) and returned to
practice medicine privately in Jamaica for many years after
1764.1eS He was a member of the American Philosophical
Society (Philadelphia), engaged in widespread scientific
correspondence with botanists in Europe and America,
and sent scientific observations and communications to the
Royal Society of London.le9 Temporarily removing to England
in 1777, h,e associated with the most eminent men and
botanical students of London and was proposed a candidate to
the Royal Society, December 11, 1777. A certificate in his
favor was exhibited at subsequent meetings of the Society
from December 18, 1777, to March 5, 1778, and it read as
follows :
Wm Wright M.D. of the Island of Jamaica & of
Southampton Buildings, being desirous of the honour of
admission into this Society, we whose names are underwritten
do, on our personal Knowledge, decla~et hat by
his information in the Science of Botany & other branches
of Natural history he is likely to become an usefull &
, . valuable member.
Read Decr 11th 1777
Jos: Banks
John Fothergill
Dan. Solander
Maxwell Garthshore
John Reinold Forster
John Ellis
J. Lloyd170
Dr. Wright was elected into the Society, March 12, 1778, and a
week later he caused his admission fee and "the usual sum in
lieu of Contributions" to be paid and "it was ordered that his
16s See the account of Dr. Wright in the Dkt. of Nut. Biog.
169 Journal-Book, XXIX, 337-338, 344-345.
170 Certificates, 1767-78, unpaged; Journal-Book, XXIX, 435.
name be inserted in the printed lists."171 Almost two years
passed, however, before he appeared personally before the
Society and was formally admitted fellow. His admission is
recorded in the minutes of the meeting held February 3, 1780:
Dr Wm Wright of Jamaica who was elected some
time ago & had paid his admission fee & the usual sum in
lieu of Annual contributions, attended at this meeting,
signed the obligation in the Charter book, & was admitted.
172
Dr. Wright returned to Jamaica (1782-85), settled in Edinburgh
in 1786, sailed to the West Indies (1795) as naval physician,
and spent two years in Barbados. In 1798 he settled
again at Edinburgh, took an active part in the scientific
societies of the vicinity, and brought together one of the
largest private natural history collections in the United
Kingdom.
LIEUTENANJATM ES GLENIE (1750-Nov. 23, 1817), of
Canada and London, soldier, mathematician, and author, was
second lieutenant of the Royal Artillery (later of the Engineers)
at Quebec during the American Revolution. Having
previously transmitted mathematical treatises to the Royal
Society, he was proposed a candidate for membership in the
Society, December 17, 1778, and the following certificate was
read in his favor:
Lieutenant James Glenie, of the Royal Artillery, now
at Quebec, being well versed in mathematical and philosophical
knowledge and known to this Society by some
ingenious communications being desirous of becoming a
fellow of the same; We, whose names are underwritten,
do of our personal knowledge recommend him as de-
171 Journal-Book, XXIX, 510.
172 Zbid., XXX, 187-188.
WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
serving that honor, and likely to prove a worthy and
useful Member.
Read Decr 17, 1778.
Nevi1 Maskelyne
S. Horsley
Will: Roy
James Lind
Robert Melville
W. Calderwood
Edw : P o ~ r e l ~ ~
This certificate was displayed to the Society at meetings from
December 24, 1778, until March 11, 1779, and on March 18,
1779, Lieutenant Glenie was elected fellow of the Society. He
returned to England in 1780, but retired from the Army seven
years later, emigrated to New Brunswick, and engaged in
land and timber speculation. In this he failed and, returning
to London after 180, he died in poverty in Che1~ea.l~~
BENJAMIN THOMPSON, later Sir Benjamin Thompson,
COUNT VON RUMFORD(M arch 26, 1753-August 25, 1814), of
Concord, New Hampshire, England, Bavaria, and France, soldier,
inventor, physicist, philanthropist, departed New England
shortly before the American Revolution and engaged in the
service of the King during the war. In England he made the
acquaintance of Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal
Society, and of other scientific patrons and scholars, devoted
much time to invention and scientific experimentation, and
was proposed candidate for membership in the Royal Society,
January 21, 1779. A certificate presented in his behalf to the
Society read as follows :
Benjamin Thompson Esq. of Concord in the Province
of New Hampshire in New England, A Gentleman well
versed in Natural Knowledge and many Branches of
Polite Learning, being desirous of the honor of Admission - -
into this Society; We, whose names are underwritten,
I73 Certificates, 1778-84, unpaged.
174 Dictionary of National Biography.
do on our personal Knowledge recommend him as highly
deserving of that honor and likely to prove an useful and
valuable Member.
Read Jany 21, 1779.
Thomas de Grey Junr.
T. Anguish
John Peachey
0. Salisbury Brereton
J. Lockmer
Ch. Duval
Dan. Solander
Rich. Kaye
John Ingenhouz
Cha: Hutton 175
This certificate was exhibited at meetings of the Royal Society
from January 28 until April 16, and Thompson was elected
member of the Society, April 22, 1779. About two weeks
afterwards (May 6, 1779) he was present at a meeting of the
Society, paid his admission fee, gave bond to insure payment
of contributions, signed the obligation, and was formally admitted
fellow of the Royal S 0 ~ i e t y . lA~m~o ng his subsequent
benefactions to scientific organizations was the Rumford Fund,
settled on the Royal Society in 1796, the income from which
established the Rumford Medals presented
. . . to the author of the most important discovery or useful
improvement which shall be made and published by printing
or in any way made known to the public in any part
of Europe during the preceding two years on Heat or on
Light, the preference always being given to such discoveries
as, in the opinion of the President and Council of
the Royal Society, tend most to promote the good of mankind.
177
175 Certificates, 1778-84, unpaged ; Journal Book, XXIX, 661.
176 Journal-Book, XXX, 21, 33.
177 The Record, 212.
266 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
GILBERT BLANE, M. D., later Sir Gilbert Blane, 1st Baronet
(Aug. 29, 1747-June 27, 1834), was physician to the British
fleet in the West Indies (1779-83), and collected observations
relative to the natural history of Caribbean Island which were in
some instances presented by his English correspondents to the
Royal Society. Shortly before his return from the West Indies,
he was recommended (May 2, 1782) as candidate to the Royal
Society and the following certificate was presented in his favor:
Gilbert Blane M. D., Physician to His Majesty's Fleet
in the West Indies, a Gentleman well versed in several
branches of Natural Knowledge, being desirous of becoming
a Fellow of this Society, we whose names are underwritten
do from our personal knowledge recommend him as
deserving that honor and likely to become a useful Member.
Read May 2d, 1782.
John Hunter
James Lind
Dan. Solander
Maxwell Garthshore
And : K i p p i ~ . l ~ ~
According to the usual procedure, Dr. Blane's certificate was
exhibited at tea meetings of the Society (May 9-Dec. 5, 1782),
but when the Society balloted for his election (December 12,
1782) he was rejected.179 Almost two years later, however, after
Dr. Blane had returned to England, his candidacy was revived
before the Royal Society (June 10, 1784) and a new certificate
was submitted in his favor.lS0 This certificate was exhibited before
the Society from June 17 to December 16, 1784, and on
December 23 Dr. Blane was elected a member. Early in 1785
(January 13) he appeared at a meeting and, having complied
178 Certificates, 1778-84, unpaged ; Journal-Book, XXXI, 131-132.
179 Ibid.. XXXI. 247.
180 certificates, 1784-1800, unpaged ; Dr. Blane's second certificate was
almost identical to the first except that it referred to him as "Gilbert Blane
of Sackville Street Physician to his Majesty's Navy . . . and was signed by
B. Warren, John Hunter, George Baker, W. Setard, Rd. Saunders, Samuel
Foart Simmons, Maxwell Garthshore, And. Kippis, Wm. James, Thos.
Bowdler, Dav. Pitcairn, Jno. Belchier, S. Horsley, Will Roy, . Alexr.
Aubert, Will Russell, T h o r n Lashley, Henry Maty.
with the usual financial and moral requirements, was formally
admitted fellow.1s1 In 1791 and in 1792 Dr. Blane was elected
to the Council of the Society.
JAMES BOWDOIN (August 7, 1726-November 6, 1790), of
Boston, Massachusetts, merchant, statesman, physicist, and
astronomer, was governor of Massachusetts (1785-86) and one
of the founders of and president of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences (Boston). At a meeting of the Royal Society
of London, June 7, 1787, Governor Bowdoin was proposed as
a candidate for membership on the Foreign List and the following
certificate was exhibited in his behalf :
James Bowdoin Esquire, governour of the State of
Massachusetts-Bay, president of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences in Boston, and author of several essays
and letters on philosophical subjects, being desirous of becoming
a fellow of the Royal Society on the foreign list,
we whose names are hereunto subscribed, do, from our
knowledge of his merit, strongly recommend him as highly
deserving of the honour he requests, and likely to prove a
very useful and valuable member.
London the 5th June 1787.
Read June 7th 1787.
Richd : Price
Rd: Kirwan
Edwd. Bancroft
Richard Paul Jodrell
John Paradise
P. Jodrell
Caleb Whitef oord
Bernt Ankerls2
As the npmber of foreign members admitted annually to the
Royal Society was limitedls3 and as a larger number of candidates
had been proposed than the Society's statutes permitted
to be chosen, Bowdoin's name, with that of other foreigners
181 Journal-Book, XXXI, 586; XXXII, 50, 59.
182 Certificates, 1784-1800, unpaged; Journal-Book, XXXIII, 24.
183 The Record, 165-166.
268 WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY
propounded, was submitted to a committee of "Scrutators" appointed
by the president of the Society. The Scrutators examined
the list and reported (March 13, 1788) in favor of
Bowdoin with twenty-two other foreign candidates; and on
April 3, 1788, James Bowdoin was elected a foreign member of
the Royal Society.18*
James Bowdoin's election to the Royal Society on the
Foreign List marks the Royal Society's formal recognition of
the new nationality of citizens of the revolted English colonies
which now (1788) formed the United States of America.lg5 In
activities extending over a period of more than one hundred
twenty-five years the Royal Society of London had introduced
and securely established in these revolted colonies the Baconian
spirit of "experimental philosophy." A few citizens of the new
nation were still living who, as active fellows of the Royal
Society in colonial days, had first-hand experience of the value
of it as a patron of scientific learning. The colleagues of Franklin
and others, actuated by a spirit descended directly from John
Winthrop the Younger and the Original Fellows of the Royal
society of London, had organized American "philosophical" societies
which, in a large measure, performed the functions in the
new United States which the Royal Society had performed in
the colonies. Nevertheless, in the realm of science as in the
realms of art and education, the new found "liberty" of American
patriots, by reducing the r61e which the Royal Society of
London had played on the American continent, lessened the influence
of one of the most active promoters and'powerful patrons
of experimental science in the New World.
184 Journal-Book, XXXIII, 155, 163-164.
185 Until 1800, no further Americans, Canadians, or West Indians appear
to have been elected into the Royal Society except David Rittenhouse (April
8, 1732-June 26, 17%), of Philadelphia, instrument maker, astronomer, and
mathematician who, as a citizen of the new United States, was elected member
of the Royal Society on the Foreign List April 16, 1795. His certificate
which was read before the Society, November 6, 1794, ran as follows:
"David Rittenhouse Esqr. President of the American Philosophical Society at
Philadelphia, a Gentleman of high reputation in the Literary World, whom
we the underwritten think well deserving the honor of becoming a Fellow of
the Royal Society, is hereby recommended by us as a Candidate for election
on the foreign list. Read Novr. 6th 1794. H. Cavendish, J. Ramsden, A.
Shepherd, Alexr. Aubert, Nevi1 Maskelyne, Caleb Whitefoord!' Certificates,
1784-1800, unpaged.