Founded on 28 november 1660, it was granted a royal charter by king charles ii as the royal society. Thomas sprat, a protege of royal society fellow john wilkins, was chosen to write the work. Jun, 2018 michael hunters latest book is part of this trend, devoted entirely to an analysis of the frontispiece of thomas sprats history of the royal society 1667. The history of the royal society elaborates the scientific purposes of the academy and. One of the founders of the royal society, sprat published this account in 1667, which was several years. Aarsleff, hans, thomas sprat, in dictionary of scientific biography. A gunpowder controversy in the early royal society, 166770.
Oct 08, 2019 when thomas sprats the history of the royalsociety of london appeared in 1667, it was less a history than a manifesto for the future, designed to convince charles ii that experimental research was a worthwhile investment. Thomas sprat full view 1667 the history of the royal society of london. Frontispeice to thomas sprats a history of the royal society 1667. Thomas sprat 163517 the history of the royal society of. It was primarily aimed at the king in the unrealised hope that he would fund their future activities. This is not even a book about a single book, but a book about a single image belonging to a book, taking microhistory to a new order of magnification in bibliographical research. Frontispeice to thomas sprat s a history of the royal society 1667. An angel is shown placing a laurel wreath upon charless head. Thomas sprat s history of the royal society london, 1667 is the most frequently cited work when it comes to describing the relationship between science and rhetoric in seventeenthcentury england. Isaac newton, the royal society, and the birth of the modern world p. History of the royal societychapter 5 wikisource, the. Frontispiece to the history of the royalsociety of london, for the improving of natural knowledge, by thomas sprat printed by t. Sprat situated his analysis of the royal society within an emerging anglican royalist narrative of the longue duree of postreformation england. Thomas sprat sprat, thomas, 163517 a wikipedia article about this author is available sprat, thomas, 163517.
Today we are the uks national science academy and a fellowship of some 1,600 of the worlds most eminent scientists. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of. Financial innovation and modern political culture women and the courts in the control of violence between men. Thomas sprat sprat, thomas, 163517 the online books. The traditional account, represented by the royal society s handbook from a century ago, which took at face value some of thomas sprat and john walliss statements about the pre history, is more cutanddried than current views about the central role of the gresham college group. Youll still be able to search, browse and read articles, but you wont be able to register or edit an account, make purchases, or activate tokens during that period. The publication history of sprats book is complemented by a survey of copies detailing the different folding, position, and orientation of the plate, both at the time of publication and by later owners. Frontispiece to the history of the royalsociety of. It was first published in 1667, with a magnificent frontispiece designed by john evelyn and etched by wenceslas hollar, showing a bust of charles ii flanked by francis bacon on the right, and on the left by william, 2nd viscount brouncker, the first. Association and authority in the history of the royal society j. Subsequent literary criticism generally focuses on the form of the history, most often its contributions to the modern english prose style. Pdf history of the royal society download full pdf. In the whole history of the first monarchs of the world. Sprats history of the royal society of london the diary.
History of the royal societychapter 5 wikisource, the free. Michael hunters latest book is part of this trend, devoted entirely to an analysis of the frontispiece of thomas sprats history of the royal society 1667. By michael hunter, with a chapter on the instruments by jim bennett. The royal society library now occupies very elegant reading rooms with offices. Epistle dedicatory let this book, intituled, the history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge, be printed. On the surface, it may appear extravagant or excessively antiquarian to devote a book, albeit a slender tome of 150 pages, to one image. Apr 18, 2019 shall here present to the world, an account of the first institution of the sect. Sprat became bishop of rochester, and published verse and a life of the poet cowley.
It was first published in 1667, with a magnificent frontispiece designed by john evelyn and etched by wenceslas hollar, showing a bust of charles ii flanked by francis bacon on the right, and on the left by william, 2nd viscount brouncker, the first president of the society. For his work on the history of science he was elected a fellow of the royal society in 1663. This book is about a single image the frontispiece to thomas sprats history of the royalsociety of london 1667. Notes to the royal society, a poem by abraham cowley. Mar 17, 2019 history of the royal society 1734 by thomas sprat. Thomas sprats history of the royal society london, 1667 is the most frequently cited work when it comes to describing the relationship between science and rhetoric in seventeenthcentury england. The story of the royal society is the story of modern science. Central to thomas sprat s history of the royal society was the description and justification of the method adopted and advocated by the fellows of the society, for it was thought that it was their method which distinguished them from ancients, dogmatists, sceptics, and contemporary natural philosophers such as descartes. This key piece of iconography for the early royal society includes central portraits of the first president, william, 2nd viscount brouncker 16201684 and francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban 15611626, with a bust of the societys first patron, king charles ii. Henry more, containing a reply to the untruthes he hath publishd, and a censure of the cabbalopythagorical philosophy, by him.
It is the oldest national scientific institution in the world. But methinks, in this one man, i do at once find enough occasion, to admire the strength of human wit, and to bewail the weakness of a mortal. When thomas sprats the history of the royalsociety of london appeared in 1667, it was less a history than a manifesto for the future, designed to convince charles ii that experimental research was a worthwhile investment focusing on experiment and travel, this lecture describes the aims and activities of the early royal society almost two centuries before. The library and archives of the royal society marie. Designed by john evelyn, and etched by wenceslaus hollar, it is arguably the bestknown representation of seventeenthcentury english science. Thomas sprat 163517 the history of the royal society. The frontispiece to thomas sprats history of the royal society 1667. Central to thomas sprats history of the royal society was the description and justification of the method adopted and advocated by the fellows of the society, for it was thought that it was their method which distinguished them from ancients, dogmatists, sceptics, and contemporary natural philosophers such as descartes. The history of the royal society selections by thomas sprat edited by jack lynch. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. The library and archives of the royal society marie boas hall. A prose stylist, wit, and founding member and historian of the royal society, he is chiefly remembered for his influence on language reform and for his biography of the poet abraham cowley.
The royal society, in which were specified various officersa president, a treasurer and two secretariesas well as a council, all these to be elected yearly on st. In 1667 a history of the making of saltpetre and gunpowder by thomas henshaw 16181700 was published in thomas sprats the history of the royal society. It was first published in 1667, with a magnificent frontispiece. History of the royal society of london work by sprat. History of the royal society 1734 by thomas sprat front matter. History of the royal societychapter 1 wikisource, the. This key piece of iconography for the early royal society includes central portraits of the first president, william, 2nd viscount brouncker 16201684 and francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban 15611626, with a bust of the society. Thomas sprats history of the royal society, the british journal for the history of science, xiii 1980, 1 26, esp. Ereck jarvis the history of the royal society is now read not with the wish to know what they were then doing, but how their transactions are exhibited by sprat.
Other articles where history of the royal society of london is discussed. The history of the royalsociety of london internet archive. A gunpowder controversy in the early royal society, 1667. Frontispiece to thomas sprats the history of the royal society. The history of the royalsociety of london for the improving of natural. Allestry at the rose and crown in ducklane, printers to. In which i venture into original material, in the form of thomas sprats history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge. Allestry at the rose and crown in ducklane, printers to the royal society. Thomas sprat sprat, thomas, 163517 the online books page. Publication date 1734 topics royal society great britain publisher.
This key piece of iconography for the early royal society includes central portraits of the first president, william, 2nd viscount brouncker 16201684 and francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban 15611626. Sprat, thomas 1635 17, author of the history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge 1667, an important document for those interested in baconianism, the nature and program of the early royal society, and the development of english prose style. Dr hall s fdn7rting account of the history of the library and archives of the society will be read with immense pleasure by fellows, historians of science and many others, and on behalf of the royal society, i should like to thank sir edward. Shortly after the elder sprat s death, his son was made a canon of westminster. The traditional account, represented by the royal societys handbook from a century ago, which took at face value some of thomas sprat and john walliss statements about the prehistory, is more cutanddried than current views about the central role of the gresham college group. Gresham college and the formation of the royal society.
University of washington history of the royal society, by thomas sprat. The history of the royalsociety of london 1734 edition open. The history of the society 1667 sprat, thomas history of the royal society. Our origins lie in a 1660 invisible college of natural philosophers and physicians. Pdf history of the royal society download full pdf book. Frontispiece to thomas sprats the history of the royal. The history of the royalsociety of london for the improving of. An edition of sprata s history has long been desired, for the original editions, although not quite rare, are not readily available, and, as the present editors point out, only.
Michael hunters investigation shows that wenceslaus hollars frontispiece to thomas sprats apologia for the royal society was originally intended for a book by john beale, lord. Thomas sprat vollansicht 1667 the history of the royal society of london. The very first learned society meeting on 28 november 1660. Thomas sprat, in his propagandizing history of the royal society of london 1667, and with the needs of scientific discovery in mind, also advocated a close, naked natural way of speaking, positive expressions, clear senses, a native easiness. The history of the royal society of london for the. Frontispiece to the history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge, by thomas sprat printed by t. History of the royal society, by thomas sprat modern. Whereas previous discussions have mostly centered on whether or not sprat rejects the rhetorical tradition, the present study investigates his manner of. Andrews day now more usually anniversary day the 30th of november.
The royal society, formally the royal society of london for improving natural knowledge, is a learned society and the united kingdoms national academy of sciences. The history of the royal society of london, for the. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge by thomas sprat and a great selection of related books. Published in 1667, under the direction of the royal society which had first met in 1660, receiving their royal charter in 1662. Whereas previous discussions have mostly centered on whether or not sprat rejects the rhetorical tradition, the present study investigates his manner of approaching past authorities. History of the royal society by thomas sprat goodreads. In hope, that this learned and inquisitive age, will either think their indeavours worthy of its assistance. History of the royal societychapter 1 wikisource, the free.
The book was a manifesto of the societys aims and methods. This is a new release of the original 1667 edition. History of the royal society, by thomas sprat modern language. Samuel johnson, in celebrating the history of the royal society for its elegant writing, initiated a persistent trend to separate thomas sprat from the subject of his 1667 publication. For instance, if you have read edward dolnicks popular history of the scientific revolution the clockwork universe. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge london.
Thomas sprat, frs 1635 20 may 17 was an english churchman, bishop of rochester. The history of the royalsociety of london, for the improving of natural. The bibliographical yield of bennetts research includes finding that the telescope depicted is the one sent by henry oldenburg to johannes hevelius in february 1667. Henry stubbe in defense of the history of the royal society whereunto is added a preface against ecebolius glanville, and an answer to the letter of dr. History of the royal society, by thomas sprat deepdyve. In his history of the royal society of london 1667, a propagandist defense rather than a factual account of the new scientific society, he criticizes the inkhorn terms learned jargon and sonorous stylistic swellings of restoration prose. The society history was written by the future bishop of rochester, thomas sprat under the guidance of john wilkins. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge by tho.
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