A Book Review for The Royal Society of Tasmania by John Williamson

Adrian Tinniswood, The Royal Society and the Invention of Modern Science, New York: Basic Books, 2019, pp. 129

This small gem of a book (129 pp.) provides an approachable examination of how the Royal Society came to exist during the 17^th century and what factors allowed it to continue. Tinniswood makes it clear that two factors – the storm of fascination at this time in science and experimentation in Europe and the UK, as well as the patronage of King Charles II – were both vital in the foundation of the Society. The author is both an academic historian and a writer of general and popular history works who has a gift for making clear what, in the hands of others, could become confusing.

The early chapters show how the 1600s were a period during which medieval ideas of science and reality were being overthrown. Developments in Mathematics, Astronomy, Biology and Physics changed the way in which society viewed nature and how new experimental methods challenged earlier concepts and ideas. The Society, Tinniswood explains, grew out of two separate movements – the first was the ‘Great Club’ at Wadham College, Oxford which developed into a haven for ‘experimental philosophy’. A club was set up there that would attract some of the great minds of the age: members from Oxford University included Robert Hooke (microscopist, architect), Christopher Wren (architect, astronomer), Seth Ward (astronomer), Robert Wood (mathematician), and John Wallis.

The second movement that initiated the Society, as outlined by Tinniswood, was a series of informal weekly meetings of academics from both Cambridge and Oxford in the unsettled years before and during the English Civil War. With the revival of monarchy in 1660, these meetings began to take on a more formal structure: held at Gresham College, London, their discussions centred on the newest ideas in science and reviewed the most recent experiments. This revolution in science – ‘advancement through experimentation and ocular inspection’ – was all the more remarkable as most people in Europe at that time, believed in witchcraft and magic. According to Tinniswood, the Royal Society actually created the Scientific Revolution. Although this may be too large a claim, it is true that these scientists were absolutely vital in that 17^th century revolution of ideas.

The author explains that the new King, Charles II, a supporter, provided them with a Royal Charter in 1662. John Evelyn, another early member, provided the now, ‘Royal’, Society’s motto Nullius in verba — ‘Take no-one’s word for it’. This was an indication that the Society’s Fellows were determined to withstand the domination of (ecclesiastical) authority and to ‘verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment’.

What did the Royal Society do? Tinniswood is at pains to answer this. Initially suggestions of possible experiments were made by members, many of which were actually carried out and then they were written up formally and accurately so that they became a permanent record. By 1665 this record had developed into the Philosophical Transactions, the world’s first and longest continuously published scientific journal. Of this in 1870, the English biologist, T.H. Huxley said, “if all the books in the world, except the [Royal Society’s] Philosophical Transactions were destroyed, it is safe to say that the foundations of the physical science would remain unshaken”.

Later chapters describe the changing location of the Royal Society, the problems that the Society encountered in attempting to choose high quality members and Fellows, and the difficulties the Royal Society faced in dealing with critics at Universities and in the Church. But, Tinniswood assures us, “by the end of the 19^th century the Society, after overcoming much opposition and indifference, had realised the aims of its founders, and at last had become an institution for promoting natural science”.

The author objectively outlines the problems faced by the Society over the centuries and how their handling of these issues was not always perfect. There are several references made to the role of foreign members and Fellows, as well as to the women who have been involved in the Society. Although these sections do seem a bit cursory – in a book of this diminutive size this is understandable – they constitute a very affirmative step.

Tinniswood’s explanations of even very complex issues are lucid and enlightening. The end notes for each chapter are accurate and thorough, the index is clear and the bibliography provides an excellent guide to the Scientific Revolution of the 17^th century. This small monograph charts the evolution of one of the world’s great institutions for the advancement of knowledge and the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

Selected References

Tinniswood, A (2019) The Royal Society and the Invention of Modern Science, New York: Basic Books, pp.129

National Museum of Australia, ‘The Royal Society of London’, https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/exploration-and-endeavour/royal-society-london

Wilton, P (2 February, 2010), ‘Oxford and the Royal Society’s Origins’, https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/science-blog/oxford-and-royal-society%E2%80%99s-origins

John Williamson
February, 2022

Wednesday 23 February 10.30am
Central Gallery, TMAG

We are very pleased to invite you to the launch of the Checklist of Tasmanian Beetles by Dr Simon Grove, Senior Curator, Invertebrate Zoology at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

This is a joint event hosted by the Friends of TMAG and the Royal Society of Tasmania.

The book, published by the Royal Society of Tasmania with financial support from the Friends, is a catalogue of all the described species of beetles from Tasmania, including Macquarie Island. It includes a meticulous up-to-date list of 2,864 species, including over 600 endemics, and colour plates featuring at least one representative species from almost every one of the 117 beetle families.

Simon Grove will speak to us about Tasmania’s rich array of beetles, and describe how advances in fieldwork and taxonomic studies have contributed to this comprehensive work, which continues a long tradition of developing insect checklists with relevance to Tasmania going back to 1842.

This is a FREE EVENT. Be assured that TMAG is working hard to provide a clean, safe environment for your visit, and seating will be socially distanced. The normal check in requirements will apply when you arrive at TMAG, and you will need to wear a mask (unless the rules change between now and then). 

BOOKINGS ARE REQUIRED – please use this link. Any members unable to use the internet registration, please contact the RST at admin@rst.org.au .

These beautifully bound notebooks feature a choice of three cover images from the Society’s rare art and book collection.

Click here to go to the online shop for immediate purchase.

Two members of the Royal Society of Tasmania have been recognised in the 2022 Australia Day Honours list for their significant achievements and service to the community.

Dr Deborah Beswick has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to education. Deborah’s career as a highly respected science teacher spans more than four decades, and she has made it her mission to inspire thousands of students in the field of science. Most recently Deborah has been the organiser of the Tasmanian Science Talent Search, a large statewide competition for school students. Deborah is a long-standing member of the Society and chairs the RST Bursaries Committee. 

Professor John Church has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to climate science through oceanographic and sea-level research and publications. John is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science as well as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and has over 180 papers and books to his credit. John was an author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

The Royal Society of Tasmania extends very warm congratulations to Deborah and John on their awards.