The ''Edinburgh Philosophical Journal'' was founded by its editors Robert Jameson and

David Brewster Sir David Brewster KH PRSE FRS FSA Scot FSSA MICE (11 December 178110 February 1868) was a British scientist, inventor, author, and academic administrator. In science he is principally remembered for his experimental work in physical optics ...

in 1819 as a

scientific journal In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. Content Articles in scientific journals are mostly written by active scientists such as s ...

to publish articles on the latest science of the day. In 1826 the two editors fell out, and Jameson continued publication as the ''Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal''. Jameson died in 1854, and his place as editor was then taken over by Thomas Anderson,

Sir William Jardine Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet of Applegarth FRS FRSE FLS FSA (23 February 1800 – 21 November 1874) was a Scottish naturalist. He is known for his editing of a long series of natural history books, ''The Naturalist's Library''. Life a ...

John Hutton Balfour John Hutton Balfour (15 September 1808 – 11 February 1884) was a Scottish botanist. Balfour became a Professor of Botany, first at the University of Glasgow in 1841, moving to the University of Edinburgh and also becoming the 7th Regius Keepe ...

and, for America,

Henry Darwin Rogers Henry Darwin Rogers FRS FRSE LLD (1 August 1808 – 26 May 1866) was an American geologist. His book, ''The Geology of Pennsylvania: A Government Survey'' (1858), was regarded as one of the most important publications on American geology issu ...

. In 1864 it was merged into the ''

Quarterly Journal of Science ''Quarterly Journal of Science'' was the title of two British scientific periodicals of the 19th century. The first was established in 1816 by William Thomas Brande, as the ''Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature and the Arts''. He edited it w ...

'', London. The ''Edinburgh Philosophical Journal'' was published by Archibald Constable and Company, then in 1826 publication of the ''Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal'' was taken on by Adam Black, later

A & C Black A & C Black is a British book publishing company, owned since 2002 by Bloomsbury Publishing. The company is noted for publishing '' Who's Who'' since 1849. It also published popular travel guides and novels. History The firm was founded in 18 ...

of Edinburgh. The journal covered emerging scientific developments in chemistry, optics, electricity, magnetism, and natural history, as well as related topics including practical mechanics, inventions, and scientific instruments. As well as articles by the editors, it published contributions by many of the leading scientists at the time, including

Charles Babbage Charles Babbage (; 26 December 1791 – 18 October 1871) was an English polymath. A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage originated the concept of a digital programmable computer. Babbage is considered ...

John Herschel Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet (; 7 March 1792 – 11 May 1871) was an English polymath active as a mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, experimental photographer who invented the blueprint and did botanical wor ...

Robert Stevenson Robert Stevenson may refer to: * Robert Stevenson (actor and politician) (1915–1975), American actor and politician * Robert Stevenson (civil engineer) (1772–1850), Scottish lighthouse engineer * Robert Stevenson (director) (1905–1986), Engl ...

, William Scoresby, Alexander Humboldt and Humphry Davy. It was one of the publishing options for the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

, and after 1839 it published proceedings of the Wernerian Natural History Society.

References

English-language journals Multidisciplinary scientific journals Natural philosophy Publications established in 1819 Mass media in Edinburgh 1819 establishments in Scotland {{science-journal-stub