1740-1759: Scholarly Societies Chronicle

Scholarly Societies Project

Chronicle for Societies Founded from 1740 to 1759

47 Societies 41 History Pages 29 Websites

Last Updated: 2024, October 31

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1740
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Dijon	Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon (Academy of Sciences, Arts and Humanities of Dijon) [The Society was founded in 1740. It has had the following names: (1) Académie de Dijon; (2) Société Libre d'Agriculture, Sciences et Arts de Dijon; (3) Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon; (4) Académie Impériale des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon; and (5) Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon (its current name).]
Italy Naples	Reale Accademia Medico-Chirurgica di Napoli (Royal Medico-Surgical Academy of Napoli) [The Academy was founded in 1740 as the Accademia Medico-Chirurgica. On 1858, July 23, it became the Reale Accademia Medico-Chirurgica di Napoli. In 1929, it became the Reale Accademia delle Scienze Medico-Chirurgiche di Napoli. In 1934, October 16, it became the fourth consituent Academy of the Società Reale di Napoli.]	Ceased

1741
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Germany Königsberg	Königliche Deutsche Gesellschaft zu Königsberg (Royal German Society in Königsberg) [This Society was founded in 1741 as the Deutsche Gesellschaft zu Königsberg. In 1743 it became the Königliche Deutsche Gesellschaft zu Königsberg. It survived until about 1939.]	Ceased
Germany Weissenfels	Weißenfelsische Alethophilische Gesellschaft = Weissenfelsische Alethophilische Gesellschaft (Truth-loving Society in Weissenfels) [This was one of several Alethophile societies founded in the eigtheenth century in Germany.]	Ceased

1742
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Denmark Copenhagen	Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab (Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters) [This Academy was founded on 1742, Nov.13. Over time it has had the names (1) Kiøbenhavske Selskab af Laerdoms og Videnskabers Elskere; (2) Kongelige Videnskabers Selskab; and (3) Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab (its current name).]	)

1743
Seat	Society Name	More Details
United States of America Philadelphia	American Philosophical Society (APS)
Germany Königsberg	Freye Gesellschaft zu Königsberg (Free Society in Königsberg) [This Society was founded in 1743 as a break-away from the Deutsche Gesellschaft zu Königsberg (founded 1741). In 1788 it merged into the latter Society.]	Ceased
Poland Gdańsk (Danzig)	Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Danzig (Research Society in Danzig) [The Society was founded in 1743 in Danzig (then part of Germany, now part of Poland and known as Gdańsk) as the Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Danzig, with the spelling Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Dantzig near the beginning of its existence. It ceased to exist in 1945.]	Ceased

1744
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Rouen	Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Rouen (Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts of Rouen)
Spain	Real Academia de las Tres Nobles Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of the Three Noble Arts of San Fernando) [This was apparently an antecedent to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando; for more information see the latter's website ]	Ceased

1745
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Denmark Copenhagen	Kongelige Danske Selskab for Fædrelandets Historie (Royal Danish Society for National History) [The Society was founded on 1745, January 8. They have published a journal entitled *Danske Magazin* since 1745, the year in which the Society was founded. More historical information is found in: Kornerup, Bjørn. Det Kongelige danske Selskab for Fædrelandets Historie : 1745 - 8. Januar - 1945 : en oversigt (Köbenhavn : Gyldendal, 1945. 131 p.)]

1746
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Switzerland Zürich	Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zürich (Natural Science Society in Zürich)	.

1747
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Clermont-Ferrand	Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Clermont-Ferrand (Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts of Clermont-Ferrand) [According to Chronologie [a chronology of French scholarly societies at Gallica], this Society was founded in 1747 as the Société Littéraire de Clermont-Ferrand, and reconstituted in 1824 as the Académie de Clermont-Ferrand. The CTHS database tells a somewhat different story, indicating that the Academy was created in 1747 as Société, then became Académie in 1780, was suppressed in 1793, was revived in 1824, and once again became Académie in 1829. A record in the Bibliot. Nat. France cat. indicates that it was called the Société des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de la ville de Clermont-Ferrand in 1771. Another record in the Bibliot. Nat. France cat. indicates that it was called the Société Royale des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de... Clermont-Ferrand in 1781. Another record in the Bibliot. Nat. France cat. indicates that it was called the Société Royale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Clermont-Ferrand in 1828. Other records in the Bibliot. Nat. France cat. indicates that it was called the Société des Sciences, Lettres et Arts de Clermont-Ferrand in 1837 and 1921. [There are a few other monograph records of interest.] The Academy published a series of journals beginning in 1828.]

1750
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Nancy	Société Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Nancy (Royal Society of Sciences and Humanities of Nancy) [It was founded in 1750 as the Société Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Nancy, and went through a series of fairly minor name changes. In 1852, it became the Académie de Stanislas.]
France Amiens	Académie des Sciences, des Lettres et des Arts d'Amiens = Académie des Sciences, Lettres et Arts d'Amiens (Academy of Letters, Sciences and Arts of Amiens) [The Academy was preceded by the Société Littéraire d'Amiens (1746-1750). The Academy was officially founded in 1750 as the Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts d'Amiens. It later had the following names: (1) Société Libre d'Agriculture du département de la Somme; (2) Académie des Sciences, Arts, Agriculture et Belles-lettres d'Amiens; (3) Académie des Sciences, Agriculture, Commerce, Belles-lettres et Arts du département de la Somme; (4) Académie des Sciences, Belles-lettres, Arts, Agriculture et Commerce du département de la Somme; (5) Académie des Sciences, Belles-lettres et Arts d'Amiens; and (6) Académie des Sciences, des Lettres et des Arts d'Amiens (the current name) or (7) Académie des Sciences, Lettres et Arts d'Amiens (this seems to be an alternative name).]
Italy Rovereto	Accademia Roveretana degli Agiati di Scienze, Lettere e Arti (Rovereto Academy of the Comfortable Ones of Sciences, Letters and Arts) [The Accademia was founded in 1750. Over the years its name has had many variants, including: (1) I.R. Accademia di Scienze e Lettere in Rovereto; (2) I.R. Accademia Roveretana; (3) I.R. Accademia Scientifica e Letteraria degli Agiato di Rovereto; (4) Imp. Regia Accademia di Lettere e Scienze degli Agiati in Rovereto; (5) Accademia degli Agiati di Rovereto; (6) I.R. Accademia degli Agiati di Rovereto; (7) I.R. Accademia di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti degli Agiati in Rovereto; (8) I.R. Accademia Roveretana degli Agiati; and (9) Accademia Roveretana degli Agiati di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti (its current name).]

1751
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Toulouse	Académie Royale de Peinture, Sculpture et Architecture de Toulouse (Royal Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture of Toulouse) [The Academy was founded on 1751, January 13; it was dissolved in 1793.]	Ceased
Italy Modena	Accademia de' Medici Conghietturanti (Academy of Conjecturing Physicians) [The Academy was founded in 1751 as the Accademia de' Medici Conghietturanti. There were numerous variants on its name, some in Italian (e.g. Accademia de' Congetturanti and Accademia de' Signori Conghietturanti) and some in Latin (e.g. Medica Conjecturantium Mutinensis Academia and Medica Coniecturantium Academia). It ceased to be active around 1766.]	Ceased
England London	Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion = Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion [The Society was founded in 1751. It has had the following names over time: (1) Cymmrodorion Society : instituted for the promoting useful charities, and the knowledge of nature, among the descendants of the ancient Britons; (2) Society of Cymmrodorion; (3) Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion in London; (4) Cymmrodorion, or, Metropolitan Cambrian Institution; (5) Cymmrodorion Society of London; (6) Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (its current English name); and (7) Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion (its current Welsh name).]
Germany Göttingen	Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen (Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Göttingen) [This Academy was founded in 1751 as the Königliche Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen (Royal Society of Sciences and Humanities in Göttingen). It later had the following names: (1) Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen; (2) Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen; and (3) Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen (its current name).]
Germany Oettingen	Gesellschaft der Schönen Wissenschaften [Oettingen i. Bay.] (Society of Fine Arts in Oettingen in Bavaria) [This Society was founded in 1751, and appears not to have survived past 1760.]	Ceased
Spain Sevilla	Real Academia Sevillana de Buenas Letras (Royal Seville Academy of Humanities) [The Academy was founded on 1751, April 16. For most, if not all, of its existence it has had the name Real Academia Sevillana de Buenas Letras; for a period of time it appears to adopted the shorter name Real Academia de Buenas Letras as well.]	.
Switzerland Basel	Societas Physico-Medica Basiliensis (Physico-Medical Society of Basel) [This Society was founded in 1751 as the Societas Physico-Medica Basiliensis. It ceased in 1787.]	Ceased

1752
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Brest then Paris	Académie de Marine (Marine Academy) [The Academy was founded in 1752 as the Académie Générale pour tous les Ports, was changed the same year to the Académie de Marine, became in 1769 the Académie Royale de Marine, was suppressed in 1793, and re-established in 1921 as the Académie de Marine.]
France Besançon	Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Besançon et de Franche-Comté (Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts of Besançon and of Franche-Comté) [This Academy was founded in 1752 as Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Besançon. It later had the following names: (1) Société Académique des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Besançon; and (2) Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Besançon et de Franche-Comté (its current name).]
Germany Leipzig	Gesellschaft der Freyen Künste in Leipzig (Society of Liberal Arts in Leipzig) [The Society was founded in 1752 and ceased shortly after 1756.]	Ceased
Netherlands Haarlem	Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities) [The Society was founded in 1752 as the Hollandsche Maatschappye der Weetenschappen te Haarlem. It had various other names until about 1814, when it became the Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen. In 2002, on the occasion of its 250th anniversary, it became the Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities).]
Spain Madrid	Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando) According to their website, they published *La revista Academia. Boletín de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando* from 1881, with an interruption from 1933 - 1951.
Italy Ravenna	Società Letteraria Ravennate (Literary Society of Ravenna) [The Society was founded in 1752 and existed until at least 1771.]	Ceased

1753
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Sweden Stockholm	Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien (KVHAA) (Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities) [This Academy was founded in 1753 as the Kongliga Svenska Vitterhetsakademi (Royal Swedish Academy of Letters). It later had the following names: (1) Kongliga Vitterhets Historie och Antiquitets Academien; (2) Kongliga Vitterhets Historie och Antiqvitets Akademien or Kongliga Vitterhets Historie och Antiqvitetsakademien; and (3) Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien or Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitetsakademien (its current name).]
Italy Florence	Accademia dei Georgofili (Academy of Agriculturalists) [One of the earliest agricultural academies in Europe.]

1754
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Germany Erfurt	Akademie Gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt (Academy of the Arts and Sciences Useful to the Public in Erfurt) [The Academy was founded in 1754 as the Churfürstlich-Mayntzische Academie nützlicher Wissenschaften (Academia Electoralis Moguntina Scientiarum quae Erfurti est = Electoral Mainz Academy of the Useful Arts and Sciences). It later had the following names: (1) Churfürstlich Mainzische Akademie der Wissenschaften; (2) Academie nützlicher Wissenschaften; (3) Akademie nützlicher Wissenschaften; (4) Kurfürstlich-Mainzische Akademie nützlicher Wissenschaften zu Erfurt; (5) Königlich Preußische Academie nützlicher Wissenschaften zu Erfurt; (6) Königliche Akademie gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt; (7) Kurfürstlich Mainzer Akademie nützlicher Wissenschaften zu Erfurt; and (8) Akademie Gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt (its current name).]
Germany Kiel	Kielische Gesellschaft der Schönen Wissenschaften (Kiel Society of Humanities) [This Society was founded in 1754, and likely ceased in 1757 or soon after.]	Ceased
Denmark Copenhagen	Kongelige Akademiet for de Skønne Kunster (Royal Academy for the Fine Arts) [The Academy was founded in 1754 as the Det Kongelige Danske Skildre-, Billedhugger- og Bygnings-Academie i Kiøbenhavn (Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture and Architecture in Copenhagen). In 1771, its name was changed to Det Kongelige Danske Maler-, Billedhugger- og Bygnings-Academiet i Kiøbenhavn (Royal Danish Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture). In 1814 the name was changed again, this time to Det Kongelige Academie for de skjønne Kunster (Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts). Since 1968 it has been called Det Kongelige Danske KunstAkademi (Royal Danske Academy for the Fine Arts). Did they publish any journals?]
England London	Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce [The Society was founded in 1754 as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. It later had the following names: (1) Society, Instituted at London, for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce; (2) Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce; (3) Society of Arts; (4) Royal Society of Arts; and (5) Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (its current name).]
England London	Society of Physicians in London [The Society was founded in London in 1754. Although it apparently never chose an official name, it is described in its journal as a Society of Physicians in London. We have found no reliable proof of its existence past 1793.]	Ceased

1755
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Italy Naples	Regale Accademia Ercolanese = Reale Accademia Ercolanese (Royal Herculaneum Academy) [This Academy was founded on 1755, December 13 as the Regale Accademia Ercolanese, and became dormant in 1779. It was reconstituted in 1787 as the Reale Accademia Ercolanese; variant spellings include: Real Accademia Ercolanese, Reale Accademia Ercolanense, and Regia Accademia Ercolanense. It ceased in 1797, but was revived in 1807 as the Accademia di Storia ed Antichità. In 1808, it passed over into the newly formed Società Reale, as one of its constituent academies, the Accademia di Storia e Belle Lettere.]	Ceased
France Cherbourg	Société Nationale Académique de Cherbourg (National Academic Society of Cherbourg) [The Society was founded in 1755, evidently with the name Société Académique de Cherbourg. Later, it had the following names: (1) Société Royale Académique de Cherbourg; (2) Société Impériale Académique de Cherbourg; and (3) Société Nationale Académique de Cherbourg (its current name).]

1756
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Germany Altdorf	Deutsche Gesellschaft in Altdorf = Altdorfische Deutsche Gesellschaft (German Society in Altdorf) [This Society was founded in 1756. The last evidence that the Society existed, at least in name, was in 1767.]	Ceased
Germany Duisburg	Duisburgische Gelehrte Gesellschaft (Duisburg Scholarly Society)	Ceased

1757
Seat	Society Name	More Details
France Metz	Académie Nationale de Metz (National Academy of Metz) [This Academy was founded in 1757 as the Société Royale des Sciences et des Arts de Metz. Since that time it has had the following names: (1) Société des Lettres, Sciences et Arts de Metz; (2) Société des Lettres, Sciences et Arts et d'Agriculture de Metz; (3) Académie Royale de Metz. Lettres, Sciences, Arts et Agriculture; (4) Académie Nationale de Metz. Lettres, Sciences, Arts et Agriculture; (5) Académie Impériale de Metz; (6) Académie de Metz; (7) Metzer Akademie. Literatur, Wissenschaft, Kunst und Landwirtschaft; and (8) Académie Nationale de Metz (its current name).]
Italy Torino	Accademia delle Scienze di Torino (AST) (Academy of Sciences of Turin) [The Accademia was founded by Lagrange in 1757 as the Società Privata and became the Società Reale in 1759. It changed its name in 1783 to Accademia Reale delle Scienze (Royal Academy of Sciences). Its current name is Accademia delle Scienze di Torino.]	.
Germany Bautzen (Budissin)	Medicinische Societät (Bautzen) (Medical Society in Bautzen [1757 is the only date for which we can establish the existence of this society.]	Ceased
Russia Moscow	Российская Академия Художеств [Rossijskaâ Akademiâ Hudožestv] (Russian Academy of Arts).] [In its Imperial charter of 1764, it was referred to as Императорская Академия Трех Знатнейших Художеств [Imperatorskaâ Akademiâ Treh Znatnejših Hudožestv] (Imperial Academy of Three Notable Arts). Its Russian name early in its existence was Императорская Академия Художеств [Imperatorskaâ Akademiâ Hudožestv] (Imperial Academy of Arts). The Academy is now called Российская Академия Художеств [Rossijskaâ Akademiâ Hudožestv] (Russian Academy of Arts).]
France Rennes	Société d'Agriculture, de Commerce et des Arts de Bretagne (Society of Agriculture, Commerce and Arts of Brittany) [This Society was founded in 1757, and disappeared by 1770.]	Ceased

1759
Seat	Society Name	More Details
Germany Munich	Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften (BAdW) (Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities) [This Academy was founded in 1759 as the Churfürstlich-Baierische Akademie der Wissenschaften. It was later called: (1) Königlich Baierische Akademie der Wissenschaften; (2) Königlich Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München; (3) Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München; and (4) Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften (BAdW) (its curent name).]
Switzerland Bern	Schweitzerische Gesellschaft in Bern (Swiss Society in Bern) [The Society was founded in 1759, evidently with the name Schweitzerische Gesellschaft in Bern. It later had the names: (1) Ökonomische Gesellschaft zu Bern = Société Oeconomique de Berne; (2) Ökonomische Gesellschaft in Bern; and (3) Ökonomische Gesellschaft des Kantons Bern. On 1890, January 1, this Society merged with the Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft des Kantons Bern to form the Ökonomische und Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft des Kantons Bern (Economic and Public Welfare Society of the Canton of Bern).]

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