The Glasgow Literary Society (GLS) was founded in 1753, as a forum for intellectual discussions and debates. It met every Thursday from November to May. It was associated with the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

and the Glasgow tobacco lords. Along with the University, the

Foulis press Robert Foulis (20 April 1707 in Glasgow – 2 June 1776 in Edinburgh) was a Scottish printer and publisher. Biography Robert Foulis was born the son of a maltman. He was apprenticed to a barber, but was encouraged to become a publisher by F ...

and the Foulis Academy, the Literary Society was a key institution of the Enlightenment in Glasgow. Over time the Society developed an orientation towards scientific and technological topics, and shortly after 1800 it became the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow, with great input from the staff of Anderson's Institution. The last recorded references to the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow were 2 pamphlets published by Thomas Atkinson in 1831, and the Society is thought to have dissolved shortly after that date.

Notable members

* John Anderson * Archibald Arthur *

Joseph Black Joseph Black (16 April 1728 – 6 December 1799) was a Scottish physicist and chemist, known for his discoveries of magnesium, latent heat, specific heat, and carbon dioxide. He was Professor of Anatomy and Chemistry at the University of Glas ...

Thomas Chalmers Thomas Chalmers (17 March 178031 May 1847), was a Scottish minister, professor of theology, political economist, and a leader of both the Church of Scotland and of the Free Church of Scotland. He has been called "Scotland's greatest nine ...

William Cullen William Cullen FRS FRSE FRCPE FPSG (; 15 April 17105 February 1790) was a Scottish physician, chemist and agriculturalist, and professor at the Edinburgh Medical School. Cullen was a central figure in the Scottish Enlightenment: He was ...

David Hume David Hume (; born David Home; 7 May 1711 NS (26 April 1711 OS) – 25 August 1776) Cranston, Maurice, and Thomas Edmund Jessop. 2020 999br>David Hume" ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 18 May 2020. was a Scottish Enlightenment phil ...

* William Meikleham * John Millar * George Muirhead * James Mylne * Robert Owen *

Thomas Reid Thomas Reid (; 7 May ( O.S. 26 April) 1710 – 7 October 1796) was a religiously trained Scottish philosopher. He was the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense and played an integral role in the Scottish Enlightenment. In 1783 he wa ...

* William Richardson * John Robison * Adam Smith (a founding member) *

Andrew Ure Andrew Ure FRS (18 May 1778 – 2 January 1857) was a Scottish physician, chemist, scriptural geologist, and early business theorist who founded the Garnet Hill Observatory. He was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal S ...

* James Watt * Alexander Wilson *

Patrick Wilson Patrick Joseph Wilson (born July 3, 1973) is an American actor and director. He began his career in 1995, starring in Broadway musicals. He received nominations for two Tony Awards for his roles in ''The Full Monty'' (2000–2001) and ''Oklahoma ...

References

Organizations established in 1753 1753 in Great Britain 18th century in Scotland Scottish Enlightenment Organisations based in Glasgow University of Glasgow University of Strathclyde History of Glasgow Science and technology in Glasgow 1831 disestablishments in Scotland 1753 establishments in Scotland Literary societies {{lit-org-stub