The Dublin Philosophical Society was founded in 1683 by
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS (; 17 April 1656 – 11 October 1698) was an Irish writer on science, politics and natural philosophy.
He is noted as a close friend of fellow philosopher John Locke, and for proposing Molyneux's Problem, a thought exp ...
with the assistance of his brother
Sir Thomas Molyneux and the future Provost and Bishop
St George Ashe. It was intended to be the equivalent of the
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
in London (with which it maintained cultural ties) as well as the Philosophical Society at the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
. Whilst it had a sometimes close connection with the
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste RÃoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...
, its closest institutional connection was with
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
.
Society
The society was originally intended to be a paper reading society, however it also included many demonstrations of the latest science and mathematical endeavour of the time. Members would meet regularly within
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
and at Crow Street,
Temple Bar, Dublin
Temple Bar ( ga, Barra an Teampaill) is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin, Ireland. The area is bounded by the Liffey to the north, Dame Street to the south, Westmoreland Street to the east and Fishamble Street to ...
at a location commonly referred to as "The Crow's Nest". This location housed the society's garden and laboratory, as well as containing a large meeting room and a small repository for the society's belongings. Among its most prominent members were
William Petty
Sir William Petty FRS (26 May 1623 – 16 December 1687) was an English economist, physician, scientist and philosopher. He first became prominent serving Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth in Ireland. He developed efficient methods to s ...
, Archbishop
Narcissus Marsh
Narcissus Marsh (20 December 1638 – 2 November 1713) was an English clergyman who was successively Church of Ireland Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, Archbishop of Cashel, Archbishop of Dublin and Archbishop of Armagh.
Marsh was born at Hannin ...
, Archbishop
William King and Bishop
George Berkeley. The majority of its members were graduates of Trinity College, Dublin, a number of whom were Fellows, including the then current and later Provost of the college. Although it played a small role in intellectual Dublin life, it inspired the foundation of the Dublin Society founded in 1731 (which became the
Royal Dublin Society in 1820) and the
Royal Irish Academy in 1785. Whilst at the time no particular precedent existed for Trinity College, Dublin to recognise it, it can be considered the college's first such society.
History
The Dublin Philosophical Society had a somewhat tumultuous existence. It held its first meeting on 15 October 1683 within the Provost's lodgings at
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
, however it is thought to have existed from sometime in September 1683. It existed most prominently from 1683 until 1698, 1701 until 1731.
Having garnered a significant reputation of studious diligence, on 18 December 1683, then Provost
Robert Huntington
Robert Huntington (1637–1701) was an English churchman, orientalist and manuscript collector. He was Provost of Trinity College Dublin and Bishop of Raphoe.
Life
He was second son of the Rev. Robert Huntington, curate of Deerhurst in Gloucest ...
acting on behalf of the society wrote to
Robert Plot
Robert Plot (13 December 1640 – 30 April 1696) was an English naturalist, first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum.
Early life and education
Born in Borden, Kent to parents Robe ...
of the
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
asking for assistance in printing the papers of its members. Hereafter the relationship between both societies became cemented, with many papers being printed in
Philosophical Transactions and for a number of years the society flourished, circulating papers from various academic fields. From then on, the Provost played a vital role in protection and assistance of the society, becoming its Senior Patron, a role the position still holds.
Provisionally Dr Charles Willoughby was placed in charge of the society. On 1 November 1684
William Petty
Sir William Petty FRS (26 May 1623 – 16 December 1687) was an English economist, physician, scientist and philosopher. He first became prominent serving Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth in Ireland. He developed efficient methods to s ...
was duly elected the first president of the society, with
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS (; 17 April 1656 – 11 October 1698) was an Irish writer on science, politics and natural philosophy.
He is noted as a close friend of fellow philosopher John Locke, and for proposing Molyneux's Problem, a thought exp ...
elected as the first secretary.
The appointment of
Richard Talbot as
Lord Deputy of Ireland impeded some work of the society to a small degree, having earlier petitioned
James II to deny the society of a
royal charter
A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but s ...
in 1686.
The society struggled greatly during the
Revolution of 1688, a time which during few meetings took place, but papers were still presented to members. Finally struggling on until the year 1698, when, due to political upheaval the society was forced to adjourn for almost ten years, sometimes meeting sporadically from some time after the
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne ( ga, Cath na Bóinne ) was a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England and Ireland, VII of Scotland, and those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II (his cousin and J ...
.
During this time
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS (; 17 April 1656 – 11 October 1698) was an Irish writer on science, politics and natural philosophy.
He is noted as a close friend of fellow philosopher John Locke, and for proposing Molyneux's Problem, a thought exp ...
died and the society did not recommence activity until 1701 when his son
Samuel Molyneux
Samuel Molyneux FRS (16 July 1689 – 13 April 1728) was an amateur astronomer and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1715 and 1728 and in the Irish House of Commons from 1727 to 1728. His work with James Bradley attempt ...
was elected Secretary.
Sir Thomas Molyneux is recorded as having been a continued member of society in all its incarnations
and most likely continued to be until his death in 1733.
Council and Members of the Dublin Philosophical Society
Having been at what seems the centre of learned culture in 17th century
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
, the society boasted many historically famous members. Many of these were members, fellows, professors of
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
, clergymen, medical practitioners and members of the judiciary.
Council
Dating of the society's sessions are counted from 1 November 1684, due to the first elections of officers taking place at that time.
Members of the Society
What follows is a complete list of known members of the society.
*
William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy
William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy (1653–1692), was an Anglo-Irish soldier.
Early life
William Stewart was born in 1653, the son of Sir Alexander Stewart, 2nd Baronet, of Ramelton. His family was from Donegal, Ulster Scots, and Protes ...
.
*
Robert Reading
Sir Robert Reading, first and last Baronet Reading, (c. 1640 – c. March 1689) built several privately owned lighthouses in Ireland under letters patent from Charles II of England.
He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, receiving a BA i ...
, first and last Baronet Reading.
*
George Berkeley, Anglo-Irish philosopher.
*
Cyril Wyche
Sir Cyril Wyche PRS (c.1632 – 28 December 1707) was an English lawyer and politician.
Early life
He was born in Constantinople, Turkey, where his father, Sir Peter Wyche, was the English Ambassador. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxfor ...
, Chief Secretary for Ireland.
*
Sir Richard Bulkeley, 2nd Baronet
Sir Richard Bulkeley, 2nd Baronet FRS (17 August 1660 – 7 April 1710) was an Irish politician and baronet.
He was the elder son of Sir Richard Bulkeley, 1st Baronet and his first wife Catherine Bysse, daughter of John Bysse, sometime Chief Ba ...
, Fellow of Trinity College.
*
Samuel Foley, Bishop of Down and Connor, one of the earliest members of the society.
*
Dudley Loftus
Dr Dudley Loftus (1619 – June 1695) was an Anglo-Irish jurist and noted orientalist.
Loftus was born the second son of Sir Adam Loftus and his wife Jane Vaughan, daughter of Walter Vaughan, into a family of 17 siblings on his great-grandfather ...
, Vicar General of Ireland, Judge of the Prerogative Court of Ireland, Senior Master of Chancery and great-grandson of
Adam Loftus.
*
Allan Mullen, eminent Irish anatomist.
*
William King, Archbishop of Dublin, Scholar of
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
.
*
Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke
Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke and 5th Earl of Montgomery, (c. 165622 January 1733), styled The Honourable Thomas Herbert until 1683, was an English and later British statesman during the reigns of William III and Anne.
Background
Her ...
,
Lord President of the Council and
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
*
St George Ashe, Bishop of Cloyne, Fellow, Provost of
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
.
*
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dubl ...
,
Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer.
*
William Palliser
Sir William Palliser CB MP (18 June 1830 – 4 February 1882) was an Irish-born politician and inventor, Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1880 until his death.
Early life
Born in Dublin on 18 June 1830, Palliser was the fourth of the eight ...
, Professor of Divinity at
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
,
Bishop of Cloyne
The Bishop of Cloyne is an episcopal title that takes its name after the small town of Cloyne in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is a separate title; but, in the Church of Ireland, it has been united with oth ...
and
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel ( ga, Ard-Easpag Chaiseal Mumhan) was an archiepiscopal title which took its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. Following the Reformation, there had been parallel apostolic successions to the titl ...
.
*
Sir Thomas Molyneux, 1st Baronet, Irish physician and
Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathemat ...
.
*
Samuel Molyneux
Samuel Molyneux FRS (16 July 1689 – 13 April 1728) was an amateur astronomer and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1715 and 1728 and in the Irish House of Commons from 1727 to 1728. His work with James Bradley attempt ...
, son of
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS (; 17 April 1656 – 11 October 1698) was an Irish writer on science, politics and natural philosophy.
He is noted as a close friend of fellow philosopher John Locke, and for proposing Molyneux's Problem, a thought exp ...
, elected secretary of the society in 1706.
*John Madden, father of
Samuel Madden
Samuel Madden (23 December 1686 – 31 December 1765) was an Irish author. His works include ''Themistocles; The Lover of His Country'', ''Reflections and Resolutions Proper for the Gentlemen of Ireland'', and ''Memoirs of the Twentieth Century' ...
who co-founded the
Royal Dublin Society.
*John Bulkeley (most likely brother of
Sir Richard Bulkeley, 2nd Baronet
Sir Richard Bulkeley, 2nd Baronet FRS (17 August 1660 – 7 April 1710) was an Irish politician and baronet.
He was the elder son of Sir Richard Bulkeley, 1st Baronet and his first wife Catherine Bysse, daughter of John Bysse, sometime Chief Ba ...
).
*Robert Clements, father of Irish politician and financial figure
Nathaniel Clements
Nathaniel Clements (1705 – May 1777) was an Irish politician and financial figure, important in the political and financial administration of Ireland in the mid-18th century.
Early history
Clements was the fifth son of Robert Clements (1664†...
.
*Francis Cuff, friend of
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS (; 17 April 1656 – 11 October 1698) was an Irish writer on science, politics and natural philosophy.
He is noted as a close friend of fellow philosopher John Locke, and for proposing Molyneux's Problem, a thought exp ...
who lived in Peter's Place.
*Dr. Christopher Dominick, father Elizabeth Dominick grandmother of
Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster
Augustus Frederick FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster, etc. (21 August 1791 – 10 February/October 1874) was an Anglo-Irish peer and freemason, styled Marquess of Kildare from birth until 1804. He was born and died in Carton House. FitzGer ...
.
*
Edward Smyth, Professor, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin and
Bishop of Down and Connor
The Bishop of Down and Connor is an episcopal title which takes its name from the town of Downpatrick (located in County Down) and the village of Connor (located in County Antrim) in Northern Ireland. The title is still used by the Catholic Chur ...
.
*John Worth,
Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
*Richard Acton, Fellow of Trinity College.
*Dr. Richard Chamberlin.
*John Baynard, Archdeacon of Connor.
*
Sir Patrick Dun,
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
, and president of the
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste RÃoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...
.
*Henry Eenerly.
*J. Finglass.
*Mark Baggot.
*Dr. Daniel Houlaghan.
*John Keogh
*John Stanley.
*Jacobus Silvius.
*Samuel Walkington, Archdeacon of Ossory, elected to the society in 1693.
*Paul Rieaut.
*Sir
John Hely,
Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer
The Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer was the Baron ( judge) who presided over the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). The Irish Court of Exchequer was a mirror of the equivalent court in England and was one of the four courts which sat in the build ...
and
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.
*
Sir Richard Cox,
Lord Chancellor of Ireland and
Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland
*
Bryan Robinson,
physician, academic and writer.
*
Richard Helsham,
physician, fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and first to hold the professorship of natural philosophy on the foundation of
Erasmus Smith
Erasmus Smith (1611–1691) was an English merchant and a landowner with possessions in England and Ireland. Having acquired significant wealth through trade and land transactions, he became a philanthropist in the sphere of education, treading ...
.
*
Thomas Prior,
author, and founder of the
Royal Dublin Society.
*
Samuel Madden
Samuel Madden (23 December 1686 – 31 December 1765) was an Irish author. His works include ''Themistocles; The Lover of His Country'', ''Reflections and Resolutions Proper for the Gentlemen of Ireland'', and ''Memoirs of the Twentieth Century' ...
,
author, and founder of the
Royal Dublin Society.
Continuation of the Society
The Dublin Philosophical Society continued under the new guise of the
Medico-Philosophical Society, from 1756 until 1831.
John Rutty,
Dr. Hugh Hamilton (uncle to later
University Philosophical Society
The University Philosophical Society (UPS; ), commonly known as The Phil, is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1683 it is the oldest student, collegial and paper-reading society in t ...
Patron
George Alexander Hamilton
George Alexander Hamilton (29 August 1802 – 17 September 1871) was a minor British Conservative Party politician and later a prominent civil servant. He was an extremely zealous and active Protestant and a supporter of the Orange Order.
Pol ...
),
David MacBride,
George Cleghorn
George Cleghorn (1 September 1850–11 June 1902) was a prominent nineteenth-century physician and surgeon in New Zealand. He was a progressive doctor who kept abreast of the latest advances in Europe, Britain and the United States and introd ...
, all of whom had delivered several papers to the Dublin Philosophical Society and continued the practice of paper reading. The papers presented could cover natural history, natural philosophy, medicine, ethics, as well as politics, similar in style and subject matter to those of the Dublin Philosophical Society. Whilst a significant proportion of the members had studied at
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
it was predominantly aligned with
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste RÃoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...
.
While the society may have existed outside of
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
for the first time in seventy-three years, the tradition established by the society of having academic papers published in
Philosophical Transactions continued in within the college.
Restoration to Trinity College
In November 1842 to mark the original session date the Dublin Philosophical Society was reformed under its original name. One hundred and sixty years after its inception the society fully returned to
Trinity College Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
in February 1843 becoming the Dublin University Philosophical Society, with then Provost
Franc Sadleir
Franc Sadleir 'formerly'' Francis(1775–1851) was an Irish academic and Provost of Trinity College Dublin from 1837.
Biography
Sadleir was the youngest son of Thomas Sadleir, barrister, by his first wife, Rebecca, eldest daughter of William W ...
as its senior patron and
George Alexander Hamilton
George Alexander Hamilton (29 August 1802 – 17 September 1871) was a minor British Conservative Party politician and later a prominent civil servant. He was an extremely zealous and active Protestant and a supporter of the Orange Order.
Pol ...
as vice-patron, with
Richard Whately the
Archbishop of Dublin. In keeping with tradition the society met each Monday, offering its members the opportunity of reading papers on scientific, philosophical and literally subjects.
Some years later the society dropped the "Dublin" prefix becoming known as the
University Philosophical Society
The University Philosophical Society (UPS; ), commonly known as The Phil, is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1683 it is the oldest student, collegial and paper-reading society in t ...
as it is in the college today.
Inspiration for other societies
The society was the inspiration for the
Royal Dublin Society which had its first meeting in the society's rooms in 1731.
[Provost's Address to Members of the Royal Dublin Society](_blank)
"The very first meeting of the Dublin Society in 1731 – when it wasn't yet Royal – was in the rooms of the Philosophical Society in Trinity College."
" The Philosophical Society is generally regarded as a forerunner of the Royal Dublin Society which was founded in 1731."
It also inspired the cadet society, the Physio-Historical Society of the
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste RÃoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...
, lasting from 1744 until 1777.
The
Royal Irish Academy founded in 1785, drew the inspiration for its creation from the society.
References
{{Authority control
1683 establishments in the British Empire
Organisations based in Dublin (city)
Learned societies of Ireland