The Royal Society was founded on 28 November 1660 by twelve men who wished to establish 'a College for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematical Experimental Learning'. Although initially unnamed, the Society was referred to as The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge in a Royal Charter of 1663. The Society, which included the Gresham Professor of Astronomy, Christopher Wren, met weekly to discuss what would now be called scientific topics and witness experiments, appointing Robert Hooke as the first Curator of Experiments.
In 1665, the Society published its first journal, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, which is now the oldest scientific journal in continuous publication. From the beginning, fellows of the Society were elected, although most were not professional scientists, and in 1847, the Society decided that fellows would be elected solely on the merit of their scientific work. Since 1731, the Society has rewarded outstanding scientific achievement through its medals and prizes, and currently makes seventeen awards each year. In 1850, a government grant system was introduced while still allowing the Society to maintain its autonomy.
The Society has played an important role in voyages of exploration to the Southern Ocean and Antarctic, supporting the scientific programmes of many expeditions, including the British naval expedition, 1839-1843 (leader James Clark Ross) and the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott). During the International Geophysical Year, a Royal Society station was established in Antarctica at Halley Bay.
Published work, Polar regions, Scientific research in Antarctica A Royal Society discussion organized by Sir Vivian Fuchs, F.R.S. and R.M. Laws, Royal Society London (1977) SPRI Library Shelf (7), The Royal Society International Geophysical Year Antarctic Expedition Halley Bay Coats Land, Falkland Island Dependencies 1955-1959 edited by (Sir) David Brunt, 4 Volumes Royal Society London (1960-1964) SPRI Library Shelf (7)91(08)[1955-1959 Royal Society], 'The Royal Society and the Antarctic' by Gordon Elliott Fogg in Notes and Records of the Royal Society (2000) volume 54 number 1 p85-98 SPRI Library Shelf Pam (7)91(091)
From the guide to the The Royal Society collection, 1952, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)
