History
It was founded in 1805 by Dr Peter Roget and others as the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, a society to promote communication and knowledge sharing between members of the medical profession
Sir William Saunders was its first President
In 1834 it received a Royal Charter and became the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London
It celebrated its centenary in 1905; soon afterwards, in 1907, it amalgamated with a number of specialist medical societies and became the Royal Society of Medicine
It continues to be an independent organisation promoting communication, education, and training for the medical profession
|
What was reforming about it?
It was a breakaway group from the earlier Medical Society of London (founded 1773), which was felt to be too hidebound
It went on to attract as members and officials some of the most notable doctors of the century
Where in Bloomsbury
Its first home was in Bloomsbury; it occupied two rooms in chambers at 2 Verulam Buildings, Gray’s Inn, from 1805–1810
In 1810 it left Bloomsbury and never returned
Website of current institution
The successor institution is the Royal Society of Medicine, at www.rsm.ac.uk (opens in new window)
|
>
Books about it
Penelope Hunting, The History of the Royal Society of Medicine (2001)
There is also a brief account of its history on the Royal Society of Medicine’s website, www.rsm.ac.uk/welcom/history.php (opens in new window)
Archives
Its archives and library have been maintained since 1805, and are held on site in Wimpole Street, London; further details can be found online via the Society’s website at www.rsm.ac.uk/librar/archives.php (opens in new window)
The Wellcome Library Archives and Manuscripts collection has a volume of extracts from its Council minutes from 1806–1839, which includes its time in Bloomsbury, ref. MS.5283, as well as related letters from later in the nineteenth century
|
+44 (0)20 7679 3134 - Copyright © 1999-2005 UCL
