president council royal society london commonly known learned society science possibly oldest society existence founded november granted royal charter king charles_ii royal society society united_kingdom number roles promoting science benefits recognising excellence science supporting outstanding science providing scientific advice policy international global cooperation education public engagement society governed council chaired society president according set statutes standing orders members council president elected basic members society elected existing currently allowed use title fellow new appointed year royal honorary foreign members allowed use title foreign member president took post november society based grade listed building central london previously london history founding early years started groups physicians natural philosophers meeting variety locations including london influenced new science promoted approximately onwards group known philosophical society oxford run set rules retained english restoration regular meetings widely held groups inspiration foundation view founding held time influence french scientists reports sent england english scientists attending view held time grounding society secretary attended meeting disputed writing makes instrument inspired english desire imitate french having meetings occasion founding making french inspire french follow english help hinder known principal men began promoted design city oxford long came england came paris society begun came knew understood little knew matter november committee announced formation college promoting mathematical experimental learning meet weekly discuss science run experiments second meeting sir announced king approved gatherings royal charter signed july created lord serving president second royal charter signed april king noted founder appointed november initial royal favour continued monarch patron society society early meetings included experiments performed appointed experiments varied subject area important cases trivial society published english translation italian book documenting experiments del meeting society temporarily relocated great fire london harm lead appropriation lord mayor society returned attempt establish permanent college society argues influenced solomon house bacon lesser extent dedicated research colleges oxford cambridge founders intended society act location research discussion proposal given letter dated september suggested scheme apartments members central research institute similar schemes later wrote philosophical college houses library chapel society ideas simpler included residences handful staff hunter maintains influence ideas forward plans secretary moved council meeting september appoint committee raising contributions members society order build college plans progressing november came given lack contributions members unrealistic aspirations society 18th century 18th century characterised early years society faded small number scientific compared periods little note second half customary majesty government refer highly important scientific questions council society advice despite non partisan nature society politics lightning pointed lightning conductor invented invented ones argument occurred deciding use opponents franklin invention accused supporters american allies british debate eventually led resignation society president sir time period customary appoint society serve government committees science concerned continues 18th century featured society early problems number increased approximately reputation society increased presidency sir death editions appearing regularly time president newton arguably abused authority dispute invention position appoint committee decide eventually publishing report written committee society informed longer rent began search new premises unsuccessfully applying new premises asking trustees meet council bought houses fleet street october included offices accommodation collection overall fellowship contained noted scientists council highly regarded included times paying society ran financial difficulty time society deficit continued point treasurer began dealing harshly paid business society time continued include demonstration experiments reading formal important scientific papers demonstration new scientific devices scientific matters britain europe modern research asserted claims society degradation 18th century false writes far having fared society experienced period significant productivity growth eighteenth century pointing sources critical accounts based fact written agenda wrote practice pure mathematics britain weak laying blame society practice mixed mathematics strong eminent members society contribute vast amounts example established earth axis years detailed meticulous astronomy politically society century featured whig supremacy called circle whig leaning scientists held society main offices named lord groups members included thomas birch prominent 60s circle birch elected secretary following resignation circle helped oversee smooth transition presidency helped elect circle reached members lord birch serving vice president secretary respectively circle influenced learned societies retirement circle lord elected sir elected point previous whig majority reduced faction birch longer involved circle declined time frame political party british politics falling apart society moved time property offered society soon sir president november began planning larger satisfying room store library small accommodation insufficient room store museum result museum handed library extended rooms council meetings 19th century present early 19th century seen time decline society contributed year published reflections causes deeply critical society scientific society spurred action eventually established charters committee view obtaining charter crown aimed primarily looking ways restrict membership committee recommended election place day year selected consideration scientific achievements number elected year limited limit increased currently number effects society society membership entirely scientific political patrons second number significantly reduced number rose approximately approximately total number period lead reform internal society statutes important change requirement treasurer publish annual report copy total income expenditure society sent days general meeting intent ensure election competent officers making readily apparent existing officers accompanied list standing council positions previously names announced couple days reforms helped ensure chance properly consider candidates society financial troubles finally resolved government grant aid year accepted increased society officially acting merely trustee funds individual scientists grant grown million million support congestion somerset house increased thanks growing number asked council petition majesty government find new facilities advice bring scientific societies geological societies roof august government announced intention societies academy moved societies joined facilities built moved taking residence floor accommodation assistant secretary library scattered room old apartment converted offices flaw space office staff approximately eighty example society organised british contribution international year additional facilities found staff outside march female elected followed statutory amendment read contained shall render women ineligible candidates contained chapter statute difficulty second world war ballot making change conducted post supporting change opposing following approval elected coat arms coat arms corner shield crest helm adorned crown eagle proper colour holding foot shield charged lions supporters white crowns motto interested early structure society possible designs august charles_ii told society allowed use arms england coat society society field england supporters crest eagle holding shield like england lions words approved charles asked arms create diploma second charter signed april arms granted president council society successors helmet arms specified charter peer helmet final design contrary rules society corporation normally helmet thought ignorant rule strictly adhered peer helmet compliment lord peer president motto society motto latin word adopted determination establish facts experiments comes compares having retired free control functions activities society variety functions activities supports modern science nearly million fund approximately research early late career scientists innovation mobility research capacity grants awards prize lectures medals come prize money intended finance research provides communications media skills courses research scientists activity supported grant society opened intended invest new scientific companies self sustaining funded initial set donations anniversary society returns investments society acts advisor united_nations matters science publishes reports year serves middle 18th century government problems involving science irregularly referred society regularly publishing society introduced world journal exclusively devoted science philosophical transactions originated peer review process widespread scientific journals founding editor society secretary society publishes following journals philosophical transactions mathematics physical sciences philosophical transactions biological sciences proceedings journal history science biographical memoirs oldest longest running scientific journal world having published march secretary society publishes themed issues specific topics currently divided parts deals mathematics physical sciences deals biological sciences proceedings consists freely submitted research articles similarly divided parts publishes short research articles opinion pieces areas biology launched publishes cross disciplinary research boundary physical life sciences publishes themed issue areas notes records society journal history science biographical memoirs published annually contains extended deceased open biology open access journal covering biology molecular cellular level open access journal publishing high quality original research entire range science basis objective peer review society journals peer reviewed structure governance society governed council chaired society president according set statutes standing orders members council president officers elected fellowship society core members scientists engineers united_kingdom commonwealth selected based having substantial contribution improvement natural knowledge including mathematics engineering science medical science elected life gain right use fellow rights responsibilities include duty financially contribute society right stand council posts right elect new elected year living members total election fellowship decided committees covering subject area set subjects areas consist existing society royal honorary foreign members royal members representing british monarchy role promoting supporting society recommended society council elected postal vote currently royal duke edinburgh duke kent princess royal duke cambridge honorary people ineligible elected rendered signal service cause science election significantly benefit society great experience walks life honorary elected date including foreign members scientists nations eminent scientific discoveries elected year society hold membership life foreign members permitted use post nominal foreign member currently number appointment authorised second charter issued april allowed president council months following signing appoint individuals saw fit saw appointment june known original month period appointments president council existing early scientists particularly eminent intellectuals clear early society rely financial assistance king scientifically trained far necessary secure favour wealthy important individuals society survival entrance fee subscription rate week produced year society paid regularly time thirds non scientists rose dropping financial security society certain committee recommended limiting annual intake members insisting scientific implemented result society consists exclusively scientific council council body including officers president treasurer physical sciences life sciences foreign secretary fellow represent committee seven council tasked directing society overall policy managing business related society making society standing orders acting trustees society possessions estates members elected annually postal ballot current standing orders mean seats change hands year council establish assisted variety committees include outside scientists charter president treasurer collectively officers society current officers president biological secretary sir physical secretary foreign secretary sir president president head society council details presidency set second charter initially limit long president serve current society statute term years current president took november historically duties president formal social left president individuals capable particular experiment animal justified addition president act government chief albeit informal advisor scientific matters task entertaining distinguished foreign guests scientists permanent staff society assisted number time paid staff original charter provided operators experiments number books society collection grew necessary employ curator staff grew financial position society improved mainly consisting outsiders small number scientists required resign fellowship employment current senior members staff executive director director science policy publishing director stuart taylor chief strategy officer miles chief financial officer director international affairs director communications director grants director development premises grade listed building current headquarters moved ground floor basement ceremonies social publicity events floor hosts facilities officers society second floors divided offices accommodation president executive secretary named baron sold lord held trust frederick prince wales frederick held court death occupied widow death prince wales george bought house instructing architect completely authorised demolition request replacement residential area eventually completed design saw turned blocks houses space building owned leased society underwent major renovation cost million opened july underwent series renovations november improve property new waiting exhibition reception rooms created house marble found greenish grey marble areas design effort layout buildings easier consolidating offices floor rooms accommodation grade listed building located near bought million funded spent million renovations adapting venue residential science centre held scientific meeting june formally opened june honours presents numerous awards lectures medals recognise scientific achievement oldest lecture created request widow founding members awarded annual basis considered important prize biological sciences created awarded seven years medal medal oldest medal use awarded outstanding achievements research branch science citation
Royal Society