At the start of the 18th century,
Edinburgh's intellectual climate fostered many clubs and societies (see
Scottish Enlightenment). Though there were several that treated the arts, sciences and medicine, the most prestigious was the Society for the Improvement of Medical Knowledge, commonly referred to as the Medical Society of Edinburgh, co-founded by the mathematician
Colin Maclaurin in 1731. Maclaurin was unhappy with the specialist nature of the Medical Society, and in 1737 a new, broader society, the Edinburgh Society for Improving Arts and Sciences and particularly Natural Knowledge, was split from the specialist medical organisation, which then went on to become the
Royal Medical Society. The cumbersome name was changed the following year to the Edinburgh Philosophical Society. With the help of
University of Edinburgh professors like
Joseph Black,
William Cullen and
John Walker, this society transformed itself into the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783, and in 1788 it issued the first volume of its new journal
Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Towards the end of the century, the younger members such as
James Hall embraced
Lavoisier's new nomenclature and the members split over the practical and theoretical objectives of the society. This resulted in the founding of the
Wernerian Society (1808–58), a parallel organisation that focused more upon natural history and scientific research that could be used to improve Scotland's weak agricultural and industrial base. Under the leadership of Prof.
Robert Jameson, the Wernerians first founded
Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society (1808–21) and then the
Edinburgh Philosophical Journal (1822,
Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal from late 1826), thereby diverting the output of the Royal Society's
Transactions. Thus, for the first four decades of the 19th century, the RSE's members published articles in two different journals. By the 1850s, the society once again unified its membership under one journal. During the 19th century, the society contained many scientists whose ideas laid the foundation of the modern sciences. From the 20th century onward, the society functioned not only as a focal point for Scotland's eminent scientists but also for the arts and humanities. It still exists today and continues to promote original research in Scotland. In February 2014, Dame
Jocelyn Bell Burnell was announced as the society's first female president, taking up her position in October.
The Young Academy of Scotland The
Young Academy of Scotland was founded by the RSE in 2011. It aims to bring together young professionals (aged mid-20s to 40s) from the widest range of disciplines and regions in Scotland to provide ideas and direction for challenges facing Scotland. The members are roughly equal numbers of women and men, serve for five years and are selected from applicants every two years. In 2021 there were 134 members.
Location The Royal Society has been housed in a succession of locations: • 1783–1807: College Library,
University of Edinburgh • 1807–1810: Physicians' Hall,
George Street; the home of the
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh • 1810–1826: 40–42 George Street; shared with the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland from 1813 • 1826–1908: the Royal Institution (now called the
Royal Scottish Academy Building) on
the Mound; shared, at first, with the
Board of Manufactures (the owners), the Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland • 1908–1909: University premises at High School Yards • 1909–present: 22–24 George Street, purchased from the Edinburgh Life Assurance Company with the assistance of a grant of £25,000 from the
Scottish Office ==Awards and medals==