and
John James Joass On 29 November 1822, the birthday of
John Ray, "the father of modern zoology", a meeting held in the
Linnean Society in Soho Square led by Rev.
William Kirby, resolved to form a "Zoological Club of the Linnean Society of London". Between 1816 and 1826, discussions between Stamford Raffles, Humphry Davy, Joseph Banks and others led to the idea that London should have an establishment similar to the
Jardin des Plantes in Paris. It would house a zoological collection "which should interest and amuse the public." Raffles was the first chairman and president, but died after only a few months in office, in July 1826. He was succeeded by the Marquess of Lansdowne who supervised the building of the first animal houses, a parcel of land in
Regent's Park having already been obtained from the Crown at the inaugural meeting. It received a royal charter from
George IV on 27 March 1829. As the twentieth century began, the need to maintain and research large animals in a more natural environment became clear. Peter Chalmers Mitchell (ZSL Secretary 1903–35) conceived the vision of a new park no more than away from London and thus accessible to the public, and at least in extent. In 1926, profiting from the agricultural depression, the ideal place was found: Hall Farm, near
Whipsnade village, was derelict, and held almost on the
Chiltern Hills. ZSL bought the farm in December 1926 for £13,480 12s 10d. In 1928 the first animals arrived at the new
Whipsnade Park—two
Amherst pheasants, a
golden pheasant and five
red jungle fowl. Others soon followed, including
muntjac deer,
llamas,
wombats and
skunks. In 1931 Whipsnade Park was opened to the public as the world's first open zoological park. In 1960–61,
Lord Zuckerman, then Secretary of ZSL, raised funds from two medical foundations to found laboratories as an
Institute of Zoology where scientists would be employed by ZSL and undertake research. The Society is a
registered charity under English law.
Leases from the Crown Estate Under the
Crown Estate Act 1961, the ZSL had a maximum lease length of 60 years from the
Crown Estate, but this was changed to 150 years by the '''''' (c. 20). ==The Institute of Zoology==