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| Formation | 1788; 237 years ago (1788) (royal charter: 1802) |
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| Type | Learned society |
| Purpose | Natural History, Evolution & Taxonomy |
| Location | |
| Membership | 3,168(as of 2023[update])[1] |
President | Anjali Goswami |
| Website | www |
| Remarks | Motto:Naturae Discere Mores ("To Learn the Ways of Nature") |
TheLinnean Society of London is alearned society dedicated to the study and dissemination of information concerningnatural history,evolution, andtaxonomy. It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript and literature collections, and publishesacademic journals and 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 selection on 1 July 1858.
The patron of the society isAnne, Princess Royal.[2] Honorary members include:King Charles III of the United Kingdom, Emeritus EmperorAkihito ofJapan, KingCarl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (both of the latter have active interests in natural history), and the eminent naturalist and broadcaster SirDavid Attenborough.[3]
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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". As a newly incorporated society, it comprised 228 fellows. It is the oldest extant natural history society in the world.[4]: 2, 19 Throughout its history the society has been a non-political and non-sectarian institution, existing solely for the furtherance of natural history.[4]: 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.[5][6]
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 nucleus and discoveredBrownian motion.[7] In 1854,Charles Darwin was elected a fellow; he is undoubtedly the most illustrious scientist ever to appear on the membership rolls of the society.[4]: 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, theArctic explorers SirJohn Franklin and SirJames Clark Ross, colonial administrator and founder ofSingapore,Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles andPrime Minister of the United Kingdom,Lord Aberdeen.[4]: 50, 53 197–198
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 papers by Charles Darwin andAlfred Russel Wallace was made, sponsored byJoseph Hooker andCharles Lyell, as neither author could be present.[8]: 288–289
The society's connection with evolution remained strong into the 20th century.Sir Edward Poulton, who was president in 1912–1916, was a great defender of natural selection, and was the first biologist to recognise the importance offrequency-dependent selection.[4]: 95 [9]
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, alichenologist andmycologist,Gulielma Lister, a mycologist, andMargaret Jane Benson, apaleobotanist, all formally admitted on 19 January 1905.[4]: 88 [10]
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 Trust andAlice Laura Embleton (1876–1960),biologist,zoologist andsuffragist, who had been one of the earliest women to deliver a paper to the society on 4 Jun 1903.[11][12][13][14] 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.[15]
The painting "Admission of Lady Fellows" byJames Sant R.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.[16]
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 theflagellum andcilia, which are central to many systems of cellular motility.[17][18]
Recent years have seen an increased interest within the society in issues ofbiodiversity conservation. This was highlighted by the inception in 2015 of an annual award, theJohn Spedan Lewis Medal, specifically honouring persons making significant and innovative contributions to conservation.[19]
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,Soho in 1805, and Soho Square in 1821.[20] 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 London and theRoyal Society of Chemistry.[4]: 51
In April 1939 the threat of war obliged the society to relocate the Linnean collections out of London toWoburn Abbey inBedfordshire, 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 Dawson provided a refuge for the society's records.[4]: 110
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. Prior to November 2024,fellowship required nomination by at least one fellow, and election by a minimum of two-thirds of those electors voting. Following election, new fellows had to be formally admitted, in person at a meeting of the society, before they were able to vote in society elections. Admission took 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 was taken by the hand by the president, who recited a formula of admission to the fellowship.[4]: 195, 198–202 [21]
As of November of 2024, applications for fellowship will be considered by a newly instigated 'Fellowship Committee'. Existing fellows may make a formal objection to the admittance of any prospective fellow. Election to fellowship is via an application supported by named referees. The fellowship committee reports to the council of the society on the suitability of applicants. After approval at a society meeting, applicants will be deemed elected as fellows.[22] Fellows may employ thepost-nominal letters 'FLS'.[23]
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.[4]: 195, 198–202 [21]
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.[4]: 195, 198–202 [21]
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.[4]: 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.[4]: 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.
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.[24][4]: 165–174
The following medals and prizes are awarded by the Linnean Society:
Linnaeus'botanical andzoological collections were purchased in 1783 by Sir James Edward Smith, the first president of the society, and are now held in London by the society.[25] 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.[26]
Smith's own plant collection of 27,185 dried specimens, together with his correspondence and book collection, is also held by the society.[27]
Other notable holdings of the society include the notebooks and journals ofAlfred Russel Wallace and the paintings of plants and animals made byFrancis Buchanan-Hamilton (1762–1829) inNepal.[28]
In December 2014, the society's specimen, library, and archive collections were granteddesignated status by theArts Council England, recognising collections of national and international importance (one of only 152 institutions so recognised as of 2020).[29]
The Linnean Society began its extensive series of publications on 13 August 1791, when Volume I ofTransactions of the Linnean Society of London was 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.[4]: 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 Society focusing on animal systematics and evolution. In 2022, the society launched theEvolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society, its first fullyopen access scholarly publication.[30]The Linnean is 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.[4]: 153–164
Previously, an electronic magazine for Fellows,Pulse, was produced quarterly. This ceased publication in 2021.[31]
TheCollege of Arms has granted the following coat of arms to the Linnean Society of London[32]:
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For the fellows of the Linnean Society of London, see:Fellows of the Linnean Society of London
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Works related toTransactions of the Linnean Society of London at Wikisource
Media related toLinnean Society of London at Wikimedia Commons
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