The Rankenian Club was an 18th-century society of intellectuals, founded in 1716 or earlier and disbanded some time after 1760. It is regarded as the most important of the many learned clubs and societies which were an important feature of the

Scottish Enlightenment The Scottish Enlightenment ( sco, Scots Enlichtenment, gd, Soillseachadh na h-Alba) was the period in 18th- and early-19th-century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. By the eighteenth century ...

.Stewart, M. A. (1985). "Berkeley and the Rankenian Club". ''Hermathena: A Trinity College Dublin Review'' 139: 24-45. The

Scots Magazine ''The Scots Magazine'' is a magazine containing articles on subjects of Scottish interest. It claims to be the oldest magazine in the world still in publication, although there have been several gaps in its publication history. It has reported on ...

in May 1771 reckoned that "the Rankenians were highly instrumental in disseminating throughout Scotland freedom of thought, boldness of disquisition, liberality of sentiment, accuracy of reasoning, correctness of taste and accuracy of composition." Its members were to become major figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, including:Broadie, A. (1997). ''The Scottish Enlightenment: An Anthology''. Edinburgh: Canongate. * Charles Mackie (1688–1770), later the first professor of history at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

* John Stevenson (1695–1775), later professor of logic and rhetoric * George Turnbull (1698–1748), theologian and professor of moral philosophy at

Marischal College Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...

, Aberdeen * Robert Wallace (1697–1771), theologian and population scientist *

William Wishart :''See also William Wishart (disambiguation)'' William Wishart (or Wischard) (died 28 May 1279) was a 13th-century Bishop of St. Andrews. He was postulated to the see of St. Andrews (''Cell Rígmonaid'' or ''Cill Rìmhinn'') while holding the po ...

(1691–1753), leading church minister and principal of the University of Edinburgh * Colin MacLaurin (1698–1746), philosopher and the greatest Scottish mathematician of his day * George Young (1692–1757), surgeon and philosopher and the only surgeon known to have joined the society

References

Scottish Enlightenment Learned societies of Scotland Defunct organisations based in Scotland Defunct learned societies of the United Kingdom {{Scotland-hist-stub