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56-486: The Jill Smythies Award of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1986 and is awarded annually to a botanical artist . The award was established by Bertram Smythies , in honour of his wife, Florence Mary Smythies ("Jill"), whose career as a botanical artist was cut short by an accident to her right hand. Linnean Society of London The Linnean Society of London is a learned society dedicated to

112-611: A Letter from C. DARWIN, Esq., to Prof. ASA GRAY, Boston, US, dated Down, September 5th, 1857. III. On the Tendency of Varieties to depart indefinitely from the Original Type. By ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE. The communication letter briefly describes the first two, and regarding Wallace's paper states that he sent to Darwin "with the expressed wish that it should be forwarded to Sir Charles Lyell, if Mr. Darwin thought it sufficiently novel and interesting. So highly did Mr. Darwin appreciate

168-445: A better short abstract!" While Wallace had not asked for publication, Darwin would, "of course, at once write and offer to send [it] to any journal" that Wallace chose. He sadly added that "all my originality, whatever it may amount to, will be smashed". Lyell's immediate response urged Darwin to publish his own ideas, and in his reply of 25 June Darwin agreed that he could point to his own Essay of 1844 which Hooker had read in 1847, and

224-462: A book titled Natural Selection . Wallace collected specimens and corresponded with Darwin from Borneo. In December 1857, he wrote to ask if Darwin's book would delve into human origins, to which Darwin responded that "I think I shall avoid the whole subject, as so surrounded with prejudices, though I fully admit that it is the highest & most interesting problem for the naturalist". He encouraged Wallace's theorising, saying "without speculation there

280-426: A largely overlooked passage from Wallace's essay (p.62), he says of the evolutionary principle : The action of this principle is exactly like that of the centrifugal governor of the steam engine, which checks and corrects any irregularities almost before they become evident; and in like manner no unbalanced deficiency in the animal kingdom can ever reach any conspicuous magnitude, because it would make itself felt at

336-412: A letter to Asa Gray of 1857 showing that he was still developing the ideas, "so that I could most truly say and prove that I take nothing from Wallace. I should be extremely glad now to publish a sketch of my general views in about a dozen pages or so. But I cannot persuade myself that I can do so honourably... I would far rather burn my whole book than that he or any man should think that I had behaved in

392-415: A meeting of the society, before they are able to vote in society elections. Admission takes the form of signing the membership book, and thereby agreeing to an obligation to abide by the statutes of the society. Following this the new fellow is taken by the hand by the president, who recites a formula of admission to the fellowship. Other forms of membership exist: 'Associate' (or 'ALS'), for supporters of

448-416: A minimum of two-thirds of those electors voting. Fellows may employ the post-nominal letters 'FLS'. Fellowship is open to both professional scientists and to amateur naturalists who have shown active interest in natural history and allied disciplines. Having authored relevant publications is an advantage, but not a necessity, for election. Following election, new fellows must be formally admitted, in person at

504-440: A number of minor name variations before it gained its Royal Charter on 26 March 1802, when the name became fixed as "The Linnean Society of London". As a newly incorporated society, it comprised 228 fellows. It is the oldest extant natural history society in the world. Throughout its history the society has been a non-political and non-sectarian institution, existing solely for the furtherance of natural history. The inception of

560-430: A paltry spirit", also requesting that Hooker be invited to give a second opinion. Darwin was overwrought by a deepening crisis of illness of his baby son Charles Waring Darwin , who died of scarlet fever on 28 June. On the morning of the 29th he acknowledged Hooker's letters, writing "I cannot think now", then that night he read the letters, and though "quite prostrated", got his servant to take to Hooker Wallace's essay,

616-615: A villa in Sandown and Darwin pressed on, with the facts he felt necessary to support his "abstract" expanding far beyond the thirty pages Hooker had originally suggested. The paper, consisting of the letter and papers, was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 3 (20 August): 46–50. The paper consisted of a communication letter by Joseph Dalton Hooker and Charles Lyell dated 30 June 1858, giving information on

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672-723: Is also held by the society. Other notable holdings of the society include the notebooks and journals of Alfred Russel Wallace and the paintings of plants and animals made by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton (1762–1829) in Nepal . In December 2014, the society's specimen, library, and archive collections were granted designated status by the Arts Council England , recognising collections of national and international importance (one of only 152 institutions so recognised as of 2020). The Linnean Society began its extensive series of publications on 13 August 1791, when Volume I of Transactions of

728-526: Is no good & original observation", adding that "I go much further than you". Wallace wrote his paper On The Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type at Ternate in February 1858 and sent it to Darwin with a request to send it on to Lyell. Darwin received it on 18 June 1858, and wrote to Lyell that "your words have come true with a vengeance,... forestalled" and "If Wallace had my MS. sketch written out in 1842, he could not have made

784-481: The natural history of South America, an interest he had developed at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge . Influenced by Charles Lyell 's Principles of Geology , he became an able geologist as well as collecting plant and animal specimens, and fossils of gigantic extinct mammals. By the return journey, he was connecting patterns of geographical and historical distribution, and starting to doubt

840-538: The Linnean Society , which focuses on plant sciences, and Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society focusing on animal systematics and evolution. In 2022, the society launched the Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society , its first fully open access scholarly publication. The Linnean is a biannual newsletter. It contains commentary on recent activities and events, articles on history and science, and occasional biographies/obituaries of people connected to

896-504: The Linnean Society of London at Wikisource [REDACTED] Media related to Linnean Society of London at Wikimedia Commons On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection On the voyage of the Beagle the young Charles Darwin took a break between graduating and starting his career as a clergyman to study

952-461: The Linnean Society of London was produced. Over the following centuries the society published a number of different journals, some of which specialised in more specific subject areas, whilst earlier publications were discontinued. Those still in publication include: the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , which covers the evolutionary biology of all organisms, Botanical Journal of

1008-638: The Linnean Society: Linnaeus' botanical and zoological collections were purchased in 1783 by Sir James Edward Smith, the first president of the society, and are now held in London by the society. The collections include 14,000 plants, 158 fish, 1,564 shells, 3,198 insects, 1,600 books and 3,000 letters and documents. They may be viewed by appointment and there is a monthly tour of the collections. Smith's own plant collection of 27,185 dried specimens, together with his correspondence and book collection,

1064-516: The Linnean Society; it also includes book reviews, reference material and correspondence. The society also publishes books and Synopses of the British Fauna , a series of field-guides. Previously, an electronic magazine for Fellows, Pulse , was produced quarterly. This ceased publication in 2021. For the fellows of the Linnean Society of London, see: Fellows of the Linnean Society of London [REDACTED] Works related to Transactions of

1120-434: The attention of Darwin who was then working out a strategy for presenting his theory. Darwin apparently mistook Wallace's meaning, writing "nothing very new ... Uses my simile of tree, [but] it seems all creation with him". However, he spelt out the details of Natural Selection to Lyell, who found the idea hard to accept but urged Darwin to publish to establish priority. On 14 May 1856 Darwin began what became his draft for

1176-435: The contents of which we had both of us been privy to for many years. On representing this to Mr. Darwin, he gave us permission to make what use we thought proper of his memoir, &c.; and in adopting our present course, of presenting it to the Linnean Society, we have explained to him that we are not solely considering the relative claims to priority of himself and his friend, but the interests of science generally". The paper

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1232-505: The department of science on which they bear". Years later, Darwin could only recall one review; Professor Haughton of Dublin claimed that "all that was new in them was false, and what was true was old." Despite illness, Darwin pressed on with writing the "abstract" of his "big book" on Natural Selection ; this condensed version was published in November 1859 as On the Origin of Species . In

1288-415: The duration of World War II . This move was facilitated by the 12th Duke of Bedford , a Fellow of the Linnean Society himself. Three thousand of the most precious items from the library collections were packed up and evacuated to Oxford; the country house of librarian Warren Royal Dawson provided a refuge for the society's records. Fellowship requires nomination by at least one fellow, and election by

1344-499: The eminent naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough . The Linnean Society was founded in 1788 by botanist Sir James Edward Smith . The society takes its name from the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus , the 'father of taxonomy', who systematised biological classification through his binomial nomenclature . (He was known as Carl von Linné after his ennoblement, hence the spelling 'Linnean', rather than 'Linnaean'.) The society had

1400-530: The essay in 1847. After turning his attention to biology and completing eight years of work on barnacles, Darwin intensified work on his theory of species in 1854. Alfred Russel Wallace , a naturalist working in Borneo , had a paper on the "introduction" of species published in Annals and Magazine of Natural History . This made guarded comments about evolution, and in the spring of 1856 it was noticed by Lyell who drew it to

1456-454: The fellowship at the annual Anniversary Meeting in May. Meetings have historically been, and continue to be, the main justification for the society's existence. Meetings are venues for people of like interests to exchange information, talk about scientific and literary concerns, exhibit specimens, and listen to lectures. Today, meetings are held in the evening and also at lunchtime. Most are open to

1512-651: The funeral of his son, and Wallace was still in Borneo. The meeting was chaired by the president of the society, Thomas Bell , who had written up the description of Darwin's reptile specimens from the Beagle expedition. About thirty were present, including two unnamed guests from overseas, with many there to hear an obituary notice for the former president and botanist Robert Brown given by Lyell. Wallace's natural history agent Samuel Stevens happened to be present, while Darwin's friends there included William Benjamin Carpenter and

1568-482: The general public as well as to members, and the majority are offered without charge for admission. On or near 24 May, traditionally regarded as the birthday of Carl Linnaeus, the Anniversary Meeting is held. This is for fellows and guests only, it includes ballots for membership of the council of the society and the awarding of medals. On 22 May 2020, for the first time in its history, the Anniversary Meeting

1624-467: The geologist William Henry Fitton . Amongst the others, Daniel Oliver and Arthur Henfry would later support evolution, while Cuthbert Collingwood became an opponent. George Bentham was persuaded by Hooker to step down so that the Darwin and Wallace papers were first on the agenda, followed by six other papers on botanical and zoological topics. Bell had introduced discussions at the end of meetings, but there

1680-602: The interests of science that a selection from them should be laid before the Linnean Society. Taken in the order of their dates, they consist of:— I. Extract from an unpublished Work on Species, by C. DARWIN, Esq., consisting of a portion of a Chapter entitled, "On the Variation of Organic Beings in a state of Nature; on the Natural Means of Selection; on the Comparison of Domestic Races and true Species." II. Abstract of

1736-493: The letter to Asa Gray and the Essay of 1844, leaving matters in the hands of Lyell and Hooker. Lyell and Hooker had decided on a joint publication at the Linnean Society of London of Wallace's paper together with an extract from Darwin's essay and his letter to Asa Gray . The last meeting of the society before the summer recess had been postponed following the death of former president the botanist Robert Brown on 10 June 1858, and

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1792-511: The old school to enter the lists before armouring." Although Bell apparently disapproved, the Vice-President promptly removed all references to immutability from his own paper which was awaiting publication. Darwin wrote to Wallace to explain what had occurred, enclosing a letter which Hooker wrote at Darwin's request. His next action was to get his family away from the danger of infection, both himself and Emma exhausted by sickening fear about

1848-473: The ornithologist and photographer Emma Louisa Turner , Lilian J. Veley , a microbiologist , Annie Lorrain Smith , a lichenologist and mycologist , Gulielma Lister , a mycologist, and Margaret Jane Benson , a paleobotanist , all formally admitted on 19 January 1905. Also numbered in the first cohort of women to be elected in 1904 were: the paleobotanist, and later pioneer of family planning, Marie Stopes ,

1904-424: The painting was presented to the society in 1919. The first female president of the society was Irene Manton (1973 to 1976), who pioneered the biological use of electron microscopy . Her work revealed the structure of the flagellum and cilia , which are central to many systems of cellular motility. Recent years have seen an increased interest within the society in issues of biodiversity conservation. This

1960-479: The philanthropist Constance Sladen , founder of the Percy Sladen Memorial Trust and Alice Laura Embleton (1876–1960), biologist , zoologist and suffragist , who had been one of the earliest women to deliver a paper to the society on 4 Jun 1903. Overall, 15 out of 16 women nominated in 1904 were elected to the society. Marian Farquharson was not admitted, having been "shamefully blackballed" as

2016-608: The safety of their children. The day after the funeral they moved to his sister-in-law's in Sussex , then on to Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight . At first they stayed in the King's Hotel, Shanklin , and on 30 July Darwin began writing an "abstract" of his book on Natural Selection , planning a short paper in response to Hooker's urging to publish a scientific paper in the Linnean journal. They next rented

2072-455: The same very ingenious theory to account for the appearance and perpetuation of varieties and of specific forms on our planet, and both fairly claim the merit of being original thinkers in this important line of inquiry; but neither of them having published his views, though Mr. Darwin has for many years past been repeatedly urged by us to do so, and both authors having now unreservedly placed their papers in our hands, we think it would best promote

2128-786: The society has been based at Burlington House , Piccadilly , London ; an address it shares with a number of other learned societies: the Geological Society of London , the Royal Astronomical Society , the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Royal Society of Chemistry . In April 1939 the threat of war obliged the society to relocate the Linnean collections out of London to Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire , where they remained for

2184-491: The society now states, although she was finally admitted in 1908. The painting "Admission of Lady Fellows" by James Sant R.A., which hangs on the upper staircase, shows the eleven women signing the society's Book of Admission and Obligation on 19 January 1905. The painting was altered to remove the figures of T R R Stebbing , the Zoological Secretary, and his wife, Mary Anne , from the right hand side sometime before

2240-550: The society was the direct result of the purchase by Sir James Edward Smith of the specimen, book and correspondence collections of Carl Linnaeus. When the collection was offered for sale by Linnaeus's heirs, Smith was urged to acquire it by Sir Joseph Banks , the eminent botanist and president of the Royal Society . Five years after this purchase Banks gave Smith his full support in founding the Linnean Society, and became one of its first Honorary Members. The society has numbered many prominent scientists amongst its fellows. One such

2296-473: The society who do not wish to submit to the formal election process for fellowship, and 'Student Associate', for those registered as students at a place of tertiary education. Associate members may apply for election to the fellowship at any time. Finally, there are three types of membership that are prestigious and strictly limited in number: 'Fellow honoris causa' , 'Foreign', and lastly, 'Honorary'. These forms of membership are bestowed following election by

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2352-543: The society, including the physician Edward Jenner , pioneer of vaccination , the Arctic explorers Sir John Franklin and Sir James Clark Ross , colonial administrator and founder of Singapore , Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Lord Aberdeen . The first public exposition of the 'Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection', arguably the greatest single leap of progress made in biology,

2408-417: The stability of Species. In September 1838 he conceived his theory of natural selection as the cause of evolution , then as well as developing his career as a geologist and writer worked privately on finding evidence and answering possible objections. He wrote out his ideas in an 1842 "pencil sketch", then in an essay written in 1844. He discussed transmutation with his friend Joseph Dalton Hooker , who read

2464-436: The study and dissemination of information concerning natural history , evolution , and taxonomy . It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript and literature collections, and publishes academic journals and books on plant and animal biology. The society also awards a number of prestigious medals and prizes. A product of the 18th-century enlightenment , the society is the oldest extant biological society in

2520-620: The three sections of the papers. The introduction is shown below, along with the section headings: MY DEAR SIR,—The accompanying papers, which we have the honour of communicating to the Linnean Society, and which all related to the same subject, viz. the Laws which affect the Production of Varieties, Races, and Species, contain the results of the investigations of two indefatigable naturalists, Mr. Charles Darwin and Mr. Alfred Wallace. The gentlemen having, independently and unknown to one another, conceived

2576-548: The value of the views therein set forth, that he proposed, in a letter to Sir Charles Lyell, to obtain Mr. Wallace's consent to allow the Essay to be published as soon as possible. Of this step we highly approved, provided Mr. Darwin did not withhold from the public, as he was strongly inclined to do (in favour of Mr. Wallace), the memoir which he had himself written on the same subject, and which, as before stated, one of us had perused in 1844, and

2632-451: The very first step, by rendering existence difficult and extinction almost sure soon to follow. The cybernetician and anthropologist Gregory Bateson would observe in the 1970s that, although seeing it only as an illustration, Wallace had "probably said the most powerful thing that’d been said in the 19th century". Bateson revisited the topic in his 1979 book Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity , and other scholars have continued to explore

2688-420: The world and is historically important as the venue for the first public presentation of the theory of evolution by natural selection on 1 July 1858. The former patron of the society was Queen Elizabeth II . Honorary members include: King Charles III of the United Kingdom, Emeritus Emperor Akihito of Japan , King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (both of the latter have active interests in natural history), and

2744-533: Was held online via videotelephony . This was due to restrictions on public gatherings imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . The Linnean Society of London aims to promote the study of all aspects of the biological sciences, with particular emphasis on evolution, taxonomy, biodiversity, and sustainability. Through awarding medals and grants, the society acknowledges and encourages excellence in all of these fields. The following medals and prizes are awarded by

2800-539: Was highlighted by the inception in 2015 of an annual award, the John Spedan Lewis Medal, specifically honouring persons making significant and innovative contributions to conservation. The society has had a number of different homes, initially meeting in Marlborough Coffee House (1788), before moving to Panton Square in 1795, then Gerrard Street, Soho in 1805, and Soho Square in 1821. Since 1857

2856-487: Was no discussion of natural selection, perhaps because of the amount of business that had been dealt with, or possibly due to polite reluctance to speak out against a theory which the eminent Lyell and Hooker were supporting. Bentham noted that the audience appeared fatigued. Hooker later said there was "no semblance of a discussion", though "it was talked over with bated breath" at tea afterwards, and in his reminiscences many years later thought "the subject [was] too ominous for

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2912-440: Was presented to a meeting of the Linnean Society on 1 July 1858. At this meeting a joint presentation of papers by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace was made, sponsored by Joseph Hooker and Charles Lyell , as neither author could be present. The society's connection with evolution remained strong into the 20th century. Sir Edward Poulton , who was president in 1912–1916, was a great defender of natural selection, and

2968-476: Was reprinted and reviewed in several magazines including The Zoologist , whose judgement was "on asking myself, 'What does all this prove?' the only answer I could make was, 'A possibility'." It was commented on in some reviews and letters. The Linnean Society President Thomas Bell in his presidential report of May 1859 wrote that "The year which has passed has not, indeed, been marked by any of those striking discoveries which at once revolutionize, so to speak,

3024-519: Was the botanist Robert Brown , who was librarian, and later president (1849–1853); he named the cell nucleus and discovered Brownian motion . In 1854, Charles Darwin was elected a fellow; he is undoubtedly the most illustrious scientist ever to appear on the membership rolls of the society. Another famous fellow was biologist Thomas Huxley , who would later gain the nickname "Darwin's bulldog" for his outspoken defence of Darwin and evolution. Men notable in other walks of life have also been fellows of

3080-417: Was the first biologist to recognise the importance of frequency-dependent selection . In 1904, the society elected its first female fellows, following a number of years of tireless campaigning by the botanist Marian Farquharson . Whilst the society's council was reluctant to admit women, the wider fellowship was more supportive; only 17% voted against the proposal. Among the first to benefit from this were

3136-479: Was to be held on 1 July. On the afternoon of 30 June Mrs. Hooker copied out extracts from the handwritten documents they had just received from Darwin, then that evening Lyell and Hooker handed them in to the secretary with a covering letter. The papers were read to the Linnean Society of London on 1 July 1858, by the Secretary John Joseph Bennett . Neither author was present. Darwin was attending

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