Royal Society charterIn 1662, the Royal Society, London, received its Royal Charter, which was passed by the Great Seal, from King Charles II. It was a successor to the Society for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematical Experimental Learning, constituted to promote experimental philosophy, formed at a meeting of a dozen scientists on 28 Nov 1660 in Gresham College, London. The Society subsequently petitioned the King to recognise it and to make a royal grant of incorporation. Gresham College is named after Sir Thomas Gresham (son of Sir Richard Gresham, Lord Mayor 1537/38) who conceived the idea of building an Exchange modelled on the Antwerp Bourse.«[Image: Frontispiece from Sprat 's History of the Royal Society (1667). President of the Royal Society, Lord Brouncker (left); bust of the King; Francis Bacon (right).] |
