The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow is a

learned society A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and science. Membership m ...

established in 1802 "''for the improvement of the Arts and Sciences''" in the city of

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. It runs a programme of lectures, starting its 220th Series in October 2021. The Society formerly owned a building on Bath Street, but since 1994 has been accommodated within the

University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde ( gd, Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh) is a public research university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal chart ...

History

The Society was founded in 1802 as the Glasgow Philosophical Society by a meeting of sixty people in the former Assembly Rooms, and work began establishing a library collection. The Society was housed in various short-term accommodation until 1831, when a room was made available in the Andersonian University (now the

). The Society subsequently moved to the Corporation Galleries on

Sauchiehall Street Sauchiehall Street () is one of the main shopping streets in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland, along with Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. Although commonly associated with the city centre, Sauchiehall Street is over in length. At its ...

in 1868, and in 1880, in conjunction with the

Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland (IESIS) is a multi-disciplinary professional body and learned society, founded in Scotland, for professional engineers in all disciplines and for those associated with or taking an interes ...

, built new premises on Bath Street. The Society was made a Royal Society in 1901, shortly before its centenary, by

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

while

Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood, (22 February 1835 – 8 July 1908) was a Scottish soldier, Tory politician, scientist and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Life Born Archibald Campbell Douglas (he dropp ...

was President. In 1961, the Society's building was sold and the library, which by that time contained over five thousand volumes, dispersed. The Society began renting lecture halls at the University of Strathclyde. The archives of the Society are now maintained by the

Archives of the University of Glasgow The Archives of the University of Glasgow (GUAS) maintain the historical records of the University of Glasgow back to its foundation in 1451. Its earliest record is a charter dating from 1304 for the lands of the earliest mention of record-ke ...

Activities

The Society runs a programme of lectures through the year, including the Kelvin and Graham Lectures, commemorating physicist

Lord Kelvin William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, (26 June 182417 December 1907) was a British mathematician, mathematical physicist and engineer born in Belfast. Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow for 53 years, he did important ...

and chemist Thomas Graham respectively, and for which medals are awarded. Lord Kelvin was president of the Society and Thomas Graham Vice-President. The Arts Medal was replaced in 2011 by the Minerva Medal. “Arts” was thought to be restrictive and it was decided that, as Minerva was goddess not only of wisdom but also of music, poetry, medicine, commerce, weaving, crafts and magic, her broad portfolio covers both Arts and Humanities. For example, a recent recipient (2021) is

Alison Phipps Alison Phipps may refer to: * Alison Phipps (sociologist), British political sociologist, gender studies scholar and feminist theorist * Alison Phipps (refugee researcher) Alison Phipps OBE FRSE FRSA FAcSS a University of Glasgow professor of ...

OBE FRSE, refugee researcher and first

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts. The image of Minerva appearing on the medal is taken from the image carved on the President’s chair which is on permanent loan to the University of Strathclyde. Recordings of lectures in recent years are archived at the University of Strathclyde.

Notable former presidents

* Professor Thomas Anderson, chemist *

, politician *

James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce, (10 May 1838 – 22 January 1922), was a British academic, jurist, historian, and Liberal politician. According to Keoth Robbins, he was a widely-traveled authority on law, government, and history whose expe ...

, politician *

William Gillies William Gillies (1865–1932) was a Scottish patriot and a socialist. He helped to form the Scots National League, which joined with other bodies to form the National Party of Scotland, which in turn evolved into the Scottish National Party (S ...

, nationalist * Professor Thomas Graham, chemist (Vice-President) *

John Graham Kerr Sir John Graham Kerr (18 September 1869 – 21 April 1957), known to his friends as Graham Kerr, was a British embryologist and Unionist Member of Parliament (MP). He is best known for his studies of the embryology of lungfishes. He was involv ...

, embryologist *

, physicist * Professor Thomas Thomson, chemist *Dr

David Templeton Gibson David Templeton Gibson FRSE (1899–1985) was a British chemist who spent his entire career at the University of Glasgow. Life He was born in Ireland on 23 November 1899, the son of Thomas Henry Gibson, a barrister, and his wife, Jessie Temple ...

FRSE, chemist

References

External links

The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow Web site
* Historical records in NAHSTE {{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow Scientific societies based in the United Kingdom Learned societies of Scotland Science and technology in Glasgow Organizations established in 1802 1802 establishments in Scotland Organisations based in Glasgow with royal patronage

History

Activities

Notable former presidents

See also

References

External links