History of the Royal Society - From Its Institution to the End of the Eighteenth Century (Hardcover, Facsimile of 1812 ed)

Thomas Thomson (1773-1852), chemist, was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1811. His "History of the Royal Society" traces the development of science from the 17th century through to the beginning of the 19th century. Based on examination of the Society's "Philosophical Transactions" from 1665 to 1800, it illustrates the progress made in each of the four main sciences - natural history, mathematics, mechanical philosophy and chemistry - during this stimulating period. Divided into five books, plus a section of miscellaneous articles, the work analyzes each science in turn, providing the scholar with a summary of the advancement of science over 135 years and the contribution of the Royal Society in this development. Containing an in-depth examination of the contributions made to science by the Royal Society fellows (including Boyle, Descartes, Galileo, Halley, Herschel and Priestley), the "History" also features an Appendix giving additional information about the Royal Society and a list of the fellows from 1663 up until 1812. The concise index is also useful, allowing readers to easily locate different subjects and scientists. Reprinted here in two volumes from the first edition of 1812, this companion to Weld's "History of the Royal Society" (published by Thoemmes Press in 2000) is a reference tool for historians of science.