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 University of Strathclyde). The Society subsequently moved to the McLellan Galleries, Corporation Galleries on Sauchiehall Street in 1868, and in 1880, in conjunction with the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, built new premises on Bath Street. The Society was made a Royal Society in 1901, shortly before its centenary, by Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Edward VII while Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood 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.Activities
The Society runs a programme of lectures through the year, including the Kelvin and Graham Lectures, commemorating physicist William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Lord Kelvin and chemist Thomas Graham (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 (refugee researcher), Alison Phipps OBE FRSE, refugee researcher and first UNESCO 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
*Thomas Anderson (chemist), Professor Thomas Anderson, chemist *Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood, politician *James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce, politician *William Gillies, nationalist *Thomas Graham (chemist), Professor Thomas Graham, chemist (Vice-President) *John Graham Kerr, embryologist *William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Lord Kelvin, physicist *Thomas Thomson (chemist), Professor Thomas Thomson, chemist *Dr David Templeton Gibson FRSE, chemistSee also
*List of Royal Societies *University of Glasgow *University of Strathclyde *Royal Society of EdinburghReferences
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