Part 1 The 1660s in context: the scientific context; the political context; the context of patronage. Part 2 The foundation of the Academie des Sciences and its first: Colbert and the foundation of the academie in 1666; the founder members of the Academie des Sciences - those with backgrounds in law; Roberval and Duclos; the majority - academicians in their 40s; the Eleves; the founder members in retrospect. Part 3 Members of the academie, 1666-1698: the early years of the academie; the members appointed 1669-1698 - the period to 1683; dynasticism in the academie - the La Hire family; the members appointed by Louvois, 1683-1691; Pontchartrain and membership to 1698 - the first phase - Bignon, Homberg and Tournefort; Pontchartrain and membership to 1698 the second phase; the formation, social status and mentality of an academician, 1666-1699. Part 4 The reform of 1699: principles and statutes, 1699; the academicians of 1699 - the mathematical sciences, the life sciences; Parisian apothecaries in the academie of 1699 - Gilles-Francois Boulduc and the Geoffroy family; the members of 1699 in context. Part 5 The academie after 1700: the secretaries and Bignon; academicians in the mathematical sciences, 1702-1750; academicians in the life sciences, 1701-1750.