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Linnean Society of London

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The Linnean Society of London
Formation1788;236 years ago(1788)(royal charter:1802)
TypeLearned society
PurposeNatural History, Evolution & Taxonomy
Location
Membership
3,145(as of 2021)[1]
President
Anjali Goswami
Websitewww.linnean.org
RemarksMotto:Naturae Discere Mores
( "To Learn the Ways of Nature" )

TheLinnean Society of Londonis alearned societydedicated to the study and dissemination of information concerningnatural history,evolution,andtaxonomy.It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript and literature collections, and publishesacademic journalsand books on plant and animal biology. The society also awards a number of prestigious medals and prizes.

A product of the18th-century enlightenment,the society is the oldest extant biological society in the world and is historically important as the venue for the first public presentation of the theory of evolution bynatural selectionon 1 July 1858.

The patron of the society was QueenElizabeth II.Honorary members include:King Charles IIIof the United Kingdom, Emeritus EmperorAkihitoofJapan,KingCarl XVI Gustaf of Sweden(both of the latter have active interests in natural history), and the eminent naturalist and broadcaster SirDavid Attenborough.[2]

History[edit]

Founding[edit]

Burlington House: the Linnean Society occupies the range to the left of, and above, the entrance arch.
The society's premises in Burlington House seen from within the courtyard.
The first admission of women as fellows of the society in 1905,Emma Louisa Turneris on the far left,Lilian J. Veleyis shown signing the membership book, whilst Lady Crisp receives the 'hand of Fellowship' from the president,William Abbott Herdman,behind Lilian J. Veley and standing isConstance Sladen– from a painting by James Sant (1820–1916)
The library of the Linnean Society, Burlington House
A display ofAlfred Russel Wallacenotebooks in the Linnean Society library
Muscicapa malachura(theSouthern emu-wren), a new species fromNew South Wales,byThomas Davies,1798, Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 4, facing page 242

The Linnean Society was founded in 1788 by botanist SirJames Edward Smith.The society takes its name from the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeus,the 'father of taxonomy', who systematised biological classification through hisbinomial nomenclature.He was known as Carl von Linné after his ennoblement, hence the spelling 'Linnean', rather than 'Linnaean'. The society had a number of minor name variations before it gained its Royal Charter on 26 March 1802, when the name became fixed as "The Linnean Society of London". In 1802, as a newly incorporated society, it comprised 228 fellows. It is the oldest extant natural history society in the world.[3]: 2, 19 Throughout its history the society has been a non-political and non-sectarian institution, existing solely for the furtherance of natural history.[3]: 148 

The inception of the society was the direct result of the purchase by Sir James Edward Smith of the specimen, book and correspondence collections of Carl Linnaeus. When the collection was offered for sale by Linnaeus's heirs, Smith was urged to acquire it by SirJoseph Banks,the eminent botanist and president of theRoyal Society.Five years after this purchase Banks gave Smith his full support in founding the Linnean Society, and became one of its first Honorary Members.[4]

Prominent members[edit]

The society has numbered many prominent scientists amongst its fellows. One such was the botanistRobert Brown,who was librarian, and later president (1849–1853); he named thecell nucleusand discoveredBrownian motion.[5]In 1854Charles Darwinwas elected a fellow; he is undoubtedly the most illustrious scientist ever to appear on the membership rolls of the society.[3]: 53 Another famous fellow was biologistThomas Huxley,who would later gain the nickname "Darwin's bulldog" for his outspoken defence of Darwin and evolution. Men notable in other walks of life have also been fellows of the society, including the physicianEdward Jenner,pioneer ofvaccination,theArcticexplorers SirJohn Franklinand SirJames Clark Ross,colonial administrator and founder ofSingapore,Sir Thomas Stamford RafflesandPrime Ministerof Britain,Lord Aberdeen.[3]: 50, 53 197–198 

Biological evolution and the society[edit]

The first public exposition of the 'Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection', arguably the greatest single leap of progress made in biology, was presented to a meeting of the Linnean Society on 1 July 1858. At this meeting ajoint presentation of papersby Charles Darwin andAlfred Russel Wallacewas made, sponsored byJoseph HookerandCharles Lyellas neither author could be present.[6]: 288–289 

The society's connection with evolution remained strong into the 20th century.Sir Edward Poulton,who was president 1912–1916, was a great defender of natural selection, and was the first biologist to recognise the importance offrequency-dependent selection.[3]: 95 [7]

Female fellows[edit]

In 1904 the society elected its first female fellows, following a number of years of tireless campaigning by the botanistMarian Farquharson.Whilst the society's council was reluctant to admit women, the wider fellowship was more supportive; only 17% voted against the proposal. Among the first to benefit from this were the ornithologist and photographerEmma Louisa Turner,Lilian J. Veley,amicrobiologist,Annie Lorrain Smith,alichenologistandmycologist,Gulielma Lister,a mycologist, andMargaret Jane Benson,apaleobotanist,all formally admitted on 19 January 1905.[3]: 88 [8]

Also numbered in the first cohort of women to be elected in 1904 were: the paleobotanist, and later pioneer of family planning,Marie Stopes,the philanthropistConstance Sladen,founder of thePercy Sladen Memorial TrustandAlice Laura Embleton(1876–1960),biologist,zoologistandsuffragist,who had been one of the earliest women to deliver a paper to the society on 4 Jun 1903.[9][10][11][12]Overall, 15 out of 16 women nominated in 1904 were elected to the society. Marian Farquharson was not admitted, having been "shamefully blackballed" as the society now states, although she was finally admitted in 1908.[13]

The painting "Admission of Lady Fellows" byJames SantR.A., which hangs on the upper staircase, shows the eleven women signing the society's Book of Admission and Obligation on 19 January 1905. The painting was altered to remove the figures ofT R R Stebbing,the Zoological Secretary, and his wife,Mary Anne,from the right hand side sometime before the painting was presented to the society in 1919.[14]

The first female president of the society wasIrene Manton(1973 to 1976), who pioneered the biological use ofelectron microscopy.Her work revealed the structure of theflagellumandcilia,which are central to many systems of cellular motility.[15][16]

Present interests[edit]

Recent years have seen an increased interest within the society in issues ofbiodiversityconservation. This was highlighted by the inception in 2015 of an annual award, theJohn Spedan LewisMedal, specifically honouring persons making significant and innovative contributions to conservation.[17]

Locations[edit]

The society has had a number of different homes, initially meeting in Marlborough Coffee House (1788), before moving to Panton Square in 1795, then Gerrard Street,Sohoin 1805, and Soho Square in 1821.[18]Since 1857 the society has been based atBurlington House,Piccadilly,London;an address it shares with a number of other learned societies: theGeological Society of London,theRoyal Astronomical Society,theSociety of Antiquaries of Londonand theRoyal Society of Chemistry.[3]: 51 

In April 1939 the threat of war obliged the society to relocate the Linnean collections out of London toWoburn AbbeyinBedfordshire,where they remained for the duration ofWorld War II.This move was facilitated by the12th Duke of Bedford,a Fellow of the Linnean Society himself. Three thousand of the most precious items from the library collections were packed up and evacuated to Oxford; the country house of librarianWarren Royal Dawsonprovided a refuge for the society's records.[3]: 110 

Membership[edit]

Fellowshiprequires nomination by at least one fellow, and election by a minimum of two-thirds of those electors voting. Fellows may employ thepost-nominal letters'FLS'. Fellowship is open to both professional scientists and to amateur naturalists who have shown active interest in natural history and allied disciplines. Having authored relevant publications is an advantage, but not a necessity, for election. Following election, new fellows must be formally admitted, in person at a meeting of the society, before they are able to vote in society elections. Admission takes the form of signing the membership book, and thereby agreeing to an obligation to abide by the statutes of the society. Following this the new fellow is taken by the hand by the president, who recites a formula of admission to the fellowship.[3]: 195, 198–202 [19]

Other forms of membership exist: 'Associate' (or 'ALS'), for supporters of the society who do not wish to submit to the formal election process for fellowship, and 'Student Associate', for those registered as students at a place of tertiary education. Associate members may apply for election to the fellowship at any time.[3]: 195, 198–202 [19]

Finally, there are three types of membership that are prestigious and strictly limited in number: 'Fellowhonoris causa','Foreign', and lastly, 'Honorary'. These forms of membership are bestowed following election by the fellowship at the annual Anniversary Meeting in May.[3]: 195, 198–202 [19]

Meetings[edit]

Meetings have historically been, and continue to be, the main justification for the society's existence. Meetings are venues for people of like interests to exchange information, talk about scientific and literary concerns, exhibit specimens, and listen to lectures. Today, meetings are held in the evening and also at lunchtime. Most are open to the general public as well as to members, and the majority are offered without charge for admission.[3]: 149–152 

On or near 24 May, traditionally regarded as the birthday of Carl Linnaeus, the Anniversary Meeting is held. This is for fellows and guests only, it includes ballots for membership of the council of the society and the awarding of medals.[3]: 149–152 On 22 May 2020, for the first time in its history, the Anniversary Meeting was held online viavideotelephony.This was due to restrictions on public gatherings imposed in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Medals and prizes[edit]

The Linnean Society of London aims to promote the study of all aspects of the biological sciences, with particular emphasis on evolution, taxonomy, biodiversity, and sustainability. Through awarding medals and grants, the society acknowledges and encourages excellence in all of these fields.[20][3]: 165–174 

The following medals and prizes are awarded by the Linnean Society:

  • Linnean Medal,established 1888, awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or (as has been common since 1958) to one of each in the same year.
  • Darwin-Wallace Medal,first awarded in 1908, for major advances in evolutionary biology.
  • H. H. Bloomer Award,established 1963 from a legacy by the amateur naturalist Harry Howard Bloomer, awarded to "an amateur naturalist who has made an important contribution to biological knowledge"
  • Trail-Crisp Award,established in 1966 from the amalgamation of two previous awards – both dating to 1910 – awarded "in recognition of an outstanding contribution to biological microscopy that has been published in the UK".
  • Bicentenary Medal,established 1978, on the 200th anniversary of the death of Linnaeus, "in recognition of work done by a person under the age of 40 years".
  • Jill Smythies Award,established 1986, awarded for botanical illustrations.
  • Linnean Gold Medal,For services to the society – awarded in exceptional circumstances, from 1988.
  • Irene Manton Prize,established 1990, for the best dissertation in botany during an academic year.
  • Linnean Tercentenary Medal,awarded in 2007 in celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus.
  • John C Marsden Medal,established 2012, for the best doctoral thesis in biology examined during a single academic year.
  • John Spedan Lewis Medal, established 2015, awarded to "an individual who is making a significant and innovative contribution to conservation".
  • Sir David Attenborough Award for Fieldwork, established in 2015.

Collections[edit]

Main article:Linnaean Herbarium

Linnaeus'botanicalandzoologicalcollections were purchased in 1783 by Sir James Edward Smith, the first president of the society, and are now held in London by the society.[21]The collections include 14,000 plants, 158 fish, 1,564 shells, 3,198 insects, 1,600 books and 3,000 letters and documents. They may be viewed by appointment and there is a monthly tour of the collections.[22]

Smith's own plant collection of 27,185 dried specimens, together with his correspondence and book collection, is also held by the society.[23]

Other notable holdings of the society include the notebooks and journals ofAlfred Russel Wallaceand the paintings of plants and animals made byFrancis Buchanan-Hamilton(1762–1829) inNepal.[24]

In December 2014, the society's specimen, library, and archive collections were granteddesignated statusby theArts Council England,recognising collections of national and international importance (one of only 152 institutions so recognised as of 2020).[25]

Publications[edit]

The Linnean Society began its extensive series of publications on 13 August 1791, when Volume I ofTransactions of the Linnean Society of Londonwas produced. Over the following centuries the society published a number of different journals, some of which specialised in more specific subject areas, whilst earlier publications were discontinued.[3]: 153–164 

Those still in publication include: theBiological Journal of the Linnean Society,which covers the evolutionary biology of all organisms,Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society,which focuses on plant sciences, andZoological Journal of the Linnean Societyfocusing on animal systematics and evolution. In 2022, the society launched theEvolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society,its first fullyopen accessscholarly publication.[26]The Linneanis a biannual newsletter. It contains commentary on recent activities and events, articles on history and science, and occasional biographies/obituaries of people connected to the Linnean Society; it also includes book reviews, reference material and correspondence. The society also publishes books andSynopses of the British Fauna,a series of field-guides.[3]: 153–164 

Previously, an electronic magazine for Fellows,Pulse,was produced quarterly. This ceased publication in 2021.[27]

Presidents[edit]

Arms[edit]

Coat of arms of Linnean Society of London
Crest
On a wreath of the colours behind a mount in which vegetates the linnaea-borealis the sun rising in splendour all Proper.
Escutcheon
Per fesse the chief per pale Gules and Vert the base Sable on a fesse Argent a hurt charged with an egg erect Proper.
Supporters
On the dexter side a lion Or gorged with a linnaea-borealis Proper therefrom a shield pendent per pale wavy Argent and Ermine charged with a rose slipped Gules and a thistle fesseways Proper and on the sinister side an eagle rising Proper gorged as the dexter therefrom a shield pendent Argent charged with a trefoil slipped Vert.
Motto
NATURAE DISCERE MORES[28]

Fellows[edit]

For the fellows of the Linnean Society of London, see:Fellows of the Linnean Society of London

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Annual Review 2021, Linnean Society, p. 29.
  2. ^"Royal Patrons and Honorary Fellows".The Linnean Society.
  3. ^abcdefghijklmnopGage, A.T.; Stearn, W.T. (1988).A Bicentenary History of the Linnean Society of London.Linnean Society of London.
  4. ^O'Brian, P.(1987)Joseph Banks,Collins Harvill. p. 240
  5. ^Harris, Henry (1999).The Birth of the Cell.Yale University Press. pp.76–81.ISBN978-0-300-07384-3.
  6. ^Cohen, I.B. (1985).Revolution in Science.Harvard University Press.
  7. ^Poulton, E. B. 1884. Notes upon, or suggested by, the colours, markings and protective attitudes of certain lepidopterous larvae and pupae, and of a phytophagous hymenopterous larva. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1884: 27–60.
  8. ^Waterfield, Amanda (2004)."The Listers and the Myxomycete Collections at the Natural History Museum (BM), London".Systematics and Geography of Plants.74(2): 289–291.ISSN1374-7886.JSTOR3668497.
  9. ^"The Linnean".21(2). 2005: 25.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  10. ^Gage, A. T. (1938). A history of the Linnean Society of London: Printed for the Linnean Society by Taylor and Francis, p. 90.
  11. ^"EDITORIAL NOTES.|1903-06-26|The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard – Welsh Newspapers".newspapers.library.wales.Retrieved16 August2020.
  12. ^"Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London".Internet Archive.Linnean Society of London.Retrieved16 August2020.
  13. ^"New Exhibition: Celebrating the Linnean Society's First Women Fellows".The Linnean Society.
  14. ^Walker, Margot (January 1984). "Admission of Lady Fellows".The Linnean.1(1): 9–11.
  15. ^Preston, Reginald Dawson (1990)."Irene Manton. 17 April 1904 – 13 May 1988".Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society.35:247–261.doi:10.1098/rsbm.1990.0011.
  16. ^Barry Leadbeater (2004). "Irene Manton: A Biography (1904–1988)".CiteSeerX10.1.1.693.4850.
  17. ^"The John Spedan Lewis Medal".The Linnean Society.
  18. ^"The Homes of the Linnean Society".The Linnean.4(2): 23–32. March 1988.
  19. ^abc"Charter and Byelaws"(PDF).The Linnean Society. 24 May 2016.
  20. ^"Recipients of the 2019 Medals, Awards, Prizes and Grants".linnean.org.The Linnean Society. 2019.
  21. ^"The purchase of knowledge: James Edward Smith and the Linnean collections"(PDF).warwick.ac.uk.1999. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 August 2017.Retrieved14 December2017.
  22. ^The Linnean Society of London: Linnean Collections
  23. ^The Linnean Society of London: Smith Collections
  24. ^Gage A. T. and Stearn W. T. (1988)A Bicentenary History of the Linnean Society of London,Linnean Society of London, pp. 175–181 (specimen collections) 183–188 (manuscript, illustration and publication collections)
  25. ^"Four collections of national importance gain Designated Status from Arts Council".Museums + Heritage Advisor.12 December 2014.
  26. ^"Our Journals".The Linnean Society.Retrieved6 July2022.
  27. ^"Pulse".The Linnean Society of London.
  28. ^"Linnean Society of London".Heraldry of the World.Retrieved11 September2021.

External links[edit]

Works related toTransactions of the Linnean Society of Londonat Wikisource Media related toLinnean Society of Londonat Wikimedia Commons

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