Notes on the foundation and history of the Royal Society

'The Foundation of the Royal Society was one of the earliest practical fruits of the philosophical labours of Francis Bacon;' with these words Sir Archibald Geikie began the chapter on the ‘Foundation and Early History of the Royal Society' in the third edition of the Record. The statement is no doubt true in a general sense. It is, however, seldom possible to trace to a single source the inception of an idea which led to the foundation of a new type of corporate organization. The evolution and development of human institutions is, as a rule, a slow process, conditioned by many factors operating in a favourable atmosphere. As Pasteur said of scientific research : ‘le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.’