5.

Michael Faraday, The City Philosophical Society and The Society of Arts
Author(s): FRANK A. J. L. JAMES
Source: RSA Journal , February 1992, Vol. 140, No. 5426 (February 1992), pp. 192-199
Published by: Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and
Commerce

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41378130

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 THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY STUDY GROUP

'To prevent any charge of immorality being 19. Richard

brought M. Dorson, The British Folklorists, 1968, p. 10.
19a. This edition was revised and expanded by Sir Henry Ellis.
against this work, the Editor begs leave to20.observe that,
Dorson, p. 25.
when an indelicate or immodest word has obtruded 21. Grose, A Provincial Glossary, 1787 1st ed.; 2nd ed. 1790,
itself for explanation, he has endeavoured to get rid of it pp. vii-viii.
22. Ed. Oliver Dick, Aubrey's Brief Lives, 1972, p. 36.
in the most decent manner possible; and none have23. Grose, Classical Dictionary, 1963, p. 202.
been admitted but such, as either could not be left out,24. Ibid, pp. 344-345.
without rendering the work incomplete, or, in some 25. Ibid, pp. 175-176.
26. James A. H. Murray, The Evolution of English Lexicography:
measure compensate by their wit, for the trespass The Romanes Lecture, Oxford, 1900, p. 41, note 2.
committed on decorum. Indeed respecting this matter, 27. Grose, Classical Dictionary, p. 10.
he can with great truth make the same defence that
Falstaff ludicrously urged in behalf of one engaged inI am most grateful to Professor Gabriele Stein (Lady Quirk) for
rebellion, viz, that he did not seek them, but that, likeher kindness in guiding me towards certain useful works of
rebellion, in the case instanced, they lay in his way, andreference. Any errors of interpretation are my own.
he found them.'27
BIBLIOGRAPHY
NOTES
Allan, D.G.C., William Shipley: Founder of the Royal Society of Arts
1. Rev. Mark Noble, A History of the College of Arms , 1804, (London
p. 434.1979).
2. Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford, 1975, Vol. Burns,
I, p. 715.Robert, Poems and Songs, (London, 1984).
Collinge,
2a. D. G. C. Allan, William Shipley , Founder of the Royal Society N. of Ed., Encyclopaedia of Language (London, 1990).
Arts , 1979, pp. 211, 213. Collison, Robert L.W., Dictionaries of English and Foreign Languages
3. Noble, p. 434. York, 1971); A History of Foreign Language Dictionaries (London,
4. Ibid, p. 435. 1982).
5. Ibid, p. 437. Cowie, A. P. 'Language as Words: Lexicography' in Collinge (above),
6. Robert Burns, Poems and Songs, 1984, p. 352. pp. 671-700.
7. Ibid, p. 210. Dick, Oliver, Ed. Aubrey's Brief Lives (Harmondsworth, 1972).
8. John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary , 1859. Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. I (Oxford, 1975), pp. 715-716.
9. A. P. Cowie, 'Language as Words: Lexicography' in ed.Richard
Dorson, N. M., The British Folklorists (London, 1968).
Collinge, Encyclopaedia of Language, 1990, p. 671. Ferguson, John, 'Return to Grose', Verbatim Vol. X No. 1 (Summer
1983), pp. 21-23.
10. Robert L. W. Collison, A History of Foreign Language Dictionaries,
1982, p. 17. Grose, Francis, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1st ed.,
11. Collison, Dictionaries of English and Foreign Languages, London,
New York, 1785. Ed. by Pierce Egan, 1823. Revised ed. 1963);
1971, p. 199. A Provincial Glossary, with a Collection of Local Proverbs, and Popular
12. James Root Hulbert, Dictionaries British and American, Superstitions
1955, p. (London,
10. 1787), 2nd ed., 1790, ed. 1811.
13. Ibid, p. 89. Hone, William, The Every-Day Book (London, 1841), Vol. I.
14. Ibid, pp. 90-91. Hotten, John Camden, The Slang Dictionary (London, 1859).
15. Ibid, p. 91. Hulbert, lames Root, Dictionaries British and American (London, 1955).
16. Sidney I. Landau, Dictionaries: The Art and Craft of Lexicography,
Landau, Sidney I, Dictionaries: The Art and Craft of Lexicography (New
New York, 1984, pp. 24-25. York, 1984).
17. Ibid, p. 59. Murray, James A.H., The Evolution of English Lexicography: The Romanes
18. Francis Grose, Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, ed. Pierce
Lecture (Oxford, 1900), p. 41, note 2).
Egan, 1823, p. xxxvi. Noble, Rev. Mark, A History of the College of Arms (London, 1804).

5. Michael Faraday, The City Philosophical Society

and The Society of Arts
FRANK A. J. L. JAMES

The outline of the story of Faraday's rise from his birth
in 1791 to the wife of a Sandemanian blacksmith,
through his apprenticeship as a bookbinder to being
192
one of the most outstanding experimentalists who has
ever lived is well known.1 However, some of the details
of Faraday's life remain remarkably opaque for
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 MICHAEL FARADAY

Chemistry, Electricity & other branches of Physical

Science which in their application to the Industries of
the world have largely promoted Arts, Manufactures &
Commerce'.3 The first two winners had been Rowland
Hill and Napoleon III respectively. In 1866 the Council
minutes listed all those who nominated Faraday and the
other candidates and shows Council's overwhelming
support for him.4 This contrasts strongly with the 1865
election where only those nominated were listed.5 This
administrative innovation was presumably made to
prevent a repetition of the extraordinary intervention
of Henry Cole on behalf of Napoleon III.6 Unless the
Council had undergone a radical change between 1865
and 1866 it does seem possible that but for this Faraday
would have been awarded it in 1865, as he was known
to be in declining health. Thus Faraday's connection
with the Society of Arts lasted until the end of his life.
His connection came about due to his membership of
the City Philosophical Society, many of whose
members joined the Society of Arts.
The City Philosophical Society grew out of courses
of scientific lectures given, normally on a Monday
during the winters of the first two decades of the
nineteenth century,7 by the silversmith John Tatum8 at
his house, 53 Dorset Street, off Fleet Street. These
lectures were open to those interested on the payment
Michael Faraday
of a subscription of one shilling per lecture. Faraday
attended these from 1810 with money given by his
brother Robert.9
someone who achieved such contemporary fame. The
The City Philosophical Society had been founded in
importance of some of his discoveries, particularly
1808 to help give those who attended Tatum's lectures,
electromagnetic induction and field theory, and the
additional access to scientific knowledge and to aid
dominant role of the Royal Institution in hismutual
careerself-improvement.10 The members of the City
have tended, until recently, to prevent biographers
Philosophical Society took themselves very seriously,
from exploring thoroughly other areas of Faraday's
with formal elections to membership organised by the
life. This has led to much evidence concerning him Once elected they were allowed to use the
secretary.
being overlooked. I shall now rectify this so far as the
initials MCPS after their name.11 During 1812 Faraday
Society of Arts is concerned. was actively seeking election to the Society.12 How-
Faraday was a member of over seventy ever, it is not clear if he was elected then. After the
learned
Continental
societies throughout the world.2 In most of these he was tour with Humphry Davy, which lasted
an honorary and thus a very inactive member, but October
from in a 1813 to April 1815, Faraday was elected
few Faraday did play an active role. The Society of Arts and served on its committee in early 1817.13
a member
was one such. He was one of the chairmen of its Meeting every Wednesday evening at Tatum's
house, the City Philosophical Society alternated
chemistry committee for a total of eleven years
between 1826 and 1838. In this position he was called
between hearing a member give a lecture on a subject
upon to consider the merits, or otherwise, of of new his choice to members and their friends and private
chemical processes and their application to industry. In
discussion between members alone on the intervening
the last full year of his life he was awarded the third
Wednesdays.14 The topics were normally scientific but
Albert medal of the Society for 'his discoveries notininvariably so.15 It was to this society that Faraday

RSA JOURNAL, FEBRUARY 1992 193

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 THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY STUDY GROUP

gave his first lectures on scientific topics secondary

between 1816 and thus may not be entirely reliable
and 1818. 16 According to Faraday, membershipespeciallyof
if there
the is only one reference to a particular
City Philosophical Society was around thirty individual's involvement with the City Philosophical
or forty17
although its laws allowed for a maximumSociety.43
membershipFurthermore this is spread across the whole
of one hundred.18 Table one is a list of all thoseof
existence for
the society from 1808 to around 1820. For
whom some evidence of their association with example
thePettigrew
City was active in its very early years,
Philosophical Society has been found. but Whether
there is noall
evidence to suggest he was involved later
these listed here were members is not clear. For on.

example Claxton and Goodwin only attended lectures Who were these co-studiers of science with F
and were never elected members. If Faraday wasOf those I can conclusively identify, Abbott was
correct about the actual number of members then wein the City and later became a teacher;44 Ainge
later become an architect; Claxton was a me
have a reasonable percentage of members here. This list
is drawn from a number of sources some of which areCocking was a landscape painter with a strong i
in parachuting which ultimately cost him his
Dryden wrote a poem describing a meeting of t
Philosophical Society;46 Hennell, Morson and P
were pharmaceutical chemists; Hone was th
known radical bookseller; Goodwin, Huxtabl
Pettigrew were medical students; Magrath w
in a warehouse and later became secretary
Table 1 I
Age in
Athenaeum
1815
Club;48 Nicol was a solicitor;49 Soll
Benjamin Abbott (1 793-1 870)19 22 lawyer and patron of science; Varley was a p
Alfred Ainger (1 797-1 859)20 1 8 Williams was a dissenting minister50 and Woo
Bo(w)yer21 was interested in optics and electricity and later
Castle22
Chambers23 a popular science lecturer. Thus the City Philo
Timothy Claxton (b.1 790)24 25 Society drew its members from a wide range
Robert Cocking (d.1 837, age 61 )25 39 backgrounds and occupations. What is striking
Secretary 1817-1824 of those who can be identified only Claxto
Dryden26
Michael Faraday (1 791 -1 867) 24 Faraday can fairly be termed artisans. The
William Joseph Goodwin 16 Philosophical Society was not, in a class s
(d.1 869, age 70)27 forerunner of the mechanics' institutes.
Henry Hennell (d.1 842, age 44)28 1 7 A diverse mixture of religious denomination
William Hone (1 780-1 842)29 35
T. Huxtable30 represented within the Society, although ther
Edward Magrath (d.1 861 , age 70)31 24 pronounced emphasis towards dissent. In addit
Secretary 1814-1816 the Sandemanians, Faraday and Varley,51 Abbo
Thomas Newborn Robert Morson 1 6
(1799-1 874)32
Phillips had close connections with the Soc
Newton33 Friends; Ainger was a unitarian; Claxton,52 Ho
Robert Nicol (d.1 831 )34 Williams were all connected with dissent of on
Thomas Joseph Pettigrew (1 791 -1 865)35 24 or another; Morson, Pettigrew, Solly and Wood
Richard Phillips (1 778-1 851 )36 37
J. Shepherd37 were Anglicans.53 The laws of the City Philoso
Secretary 1810-1813 Society specifically forbade discussion of theolo
Richard Horsman Solly (1 778-1 858)38 37 politics.5 While we know very little of the
John Tatum (d.1 858, age 86) 43
affiliation of the members, understandably so
Cornelius Varley (1 781 -1 873)39 34
Williams40 this time of repression, the ban on discussing t
Charles Woodward (c. 1 789-1 877)41 26 clearly allowed individuals of many religiou
grounds to take a full part in the work of t
Those for whom there is some evidence of their asso-
Philosophical Society.
ciation with the City Philosophical Society42. Sources :
see notes. Average age in 1 81 5: 27.3. Despite its size the City Philosophical Society
according to Claxton, to have had factions

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 MICHAEL FARADAY

several other
could have been based on the various interest societies,of
groups thus banning them from meet-
members who met independently of the ing.65 The matter
City Philo- was raised in the House of Com-
mons66 and
sophical Society. Thus Pettigrew ran weekly this presumably put pressure on the
anatomi-
cal classes for twenty or so members.56 magistrates
Magrath to grant
and the City Philosophical Society and
Faraday set up a mutual improvement the planother societies their licenses, as they did on 2 May
particularly
as regards their use of language.57 Thiswithout
mainlythe further
com- evidence as to their non-political
nature which
prised half a dozen City Philosophical Society had been requested.67 The Society of Arts
members
escaped
and lasted for several years. Whatever the proscription
source of theby adopting, after considerable
factions, they prevented Claxton fromdiscussion, the simple to
being elected but dubious expedient of stating
that it did notthat
the City Philosophical Society as they remarked come he
under the terms of the Act.68
did not have 'friends enough at court'.58 To what extent the banning, albeit temporary, of the
City Philosophical Society
The City Philosophical Society ceased completely to prompted the migration of
be active by the middle of the 1820s the as
members of the City Philosophical Society to the
mechanics'
Societyitofand
institutes began to take over the role that Arts many
is something we will probably never
other similar societies had performed. know. To members of a society which had been
It is significant
that Claxton, after being rejected by through
the City whatPhilo-
must have been the traumatic experience
of banning,
sophical Society, formed 'The Mechanical the prospect of joining a society which had
Institution'
which lasted from 1817 to 182059 when not beenhe went
affected to have been appealing. Further-
must
more as the
Russia. Thus the City Philosophical Society seems members of the City Philosophical Society
generally not to have served the interests were getting older there was less need for their
of artisans.
The mechanics' institutes that followed in the 1820s continuing self-improvement, but more need to put
were specifically devoted to artisans, but also attracted what they had learnt into practice. This was a prospect
the sort of men who would once have belonged to the that the Society of Arts, with its aim of encouraging
City Philosophical Society. However, there are some and improving arts, manufactures and commerce,
undoubtedly held out to its new members. This thesis is
indications that the activities of the City Philosophical
Society were already diminishing by the late 1810s. For reinforced by the fact that, apart from Hone and
example Faraday joined groups that were not part of Tatum, no City Philosophical Society member joined
the London Mechanics' Institution when it was formed
the City Philosophical Society. In 1818 he formed with
four others (mostly from Sandemanian families) a in 1824.69 The members of the City Philosophical
discussion group for mental exercises60 and after the Society did not feel the need to continue self-
City Philosophical Society ceased to be active he, improvement at the Institution which had largely taken
Nicol, Solly, Ainger and Hennell formed a group over the function of the City Philosophical Society.
meeting in each others' houses to read current scientific The Society of Arts subscription book for 1813 to
journals.61 Furthermore there is no mention in his 1825 reveals that for the period January 1818 to April
correspondence of his attending meetings after 1818 1822 ten, or just under half of the names on Table one,
when he gave his final lectures there.62 Apart from its occur as members of the Society of Arts. (In addition
annual entries in the Imperial Calendar this is the last Hone, Varley and Ainger were already members
evidence I have of its activities. before this time.) Of these seven are conclusive
The City Philosophical Society suffered a severe identifications (indicated by double stars on Table two)
shock in April and May 1817 when it was effectively while three are by surname only (indicated by a single
banned under the terms of sections 14-17 the Seditious star). This latter might be misleading except that their
Meetings Act.63 This Act was designed to repress proposers Nicol and Magrath are known City Philo-
political dissent by requiring all public meetings to be sophical Society members. Furthermore Newton was
licensed by magistrates. Sections 14-17 specified that all seconded by Faraday and Nicol. This does increase the
places (with very few exceptions) where lectures and likelihood of these being City Philosophical Society
debates were held must be licensed. On 14 April 1817 members who joined the Society of Arts, but this is not
Tatum petitioned the Quarter Sessions of the City for a conclusive. Further research will be necessary to
license to permit the City Philosophical Society to determine whether these single starred Society of Arts
meet.64 This was refused, along with applications from members and those indicated by a dagger sign on the list

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 THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY STUDY GROUP

Table 2 I
Date of election Member Proposer Number Seconders
14 January 1818 Robert Nicol John Cuthbert N40 G.Montague G.Scott
21 January 1818 ** Richard Phillips James Braby P126 R.Powell G.Smith
1 0 February 1 81 9 t J. England ** Alfred Ai nger E50 W. Lovell D. Stalker
28 April 1819 ** Robert Cocking John Cuthbert C174 G.Montague J.T.Cooper
1 5 December 1 81 9 ** Michael Faraday Thomas Gill F87 C. Collinge O.Williams
29 February 1 820 # Richard Chambers70 ** Robert Nicol C180 S.Simmons E. Binyon
12 April 1820 Edward Magrath Robert Nicol M167» S. Simmons T. Gill
31 May 1820 t James Morrison ## Robert Nicol M170 S. Simmons E. Magrath
20 December 1820 t George Copeland ** Edward Magrath C194 ** M. Faraday ** R. Nicol
31 January 1821 * William Newton71 ** Edward Magrath N50 ** M. Faraday ** R. Nicol
7 February 1 821 # James Dryden72 ** Edward Magrath D95 W.G.Taylor T.Ward
11 April 1821 t David Davies ** Edward Magrath D98 t G. Copeland * W. Newton
30 May 1821 t J. P. Malleson ## Edward Magrath M180 W. G. Taylor J. Hewitt
21 November 1821 ## Henry Hennell ** R. H. Solly H109 G. Reveley ** A. Ainger
21 November 1821 t William Skinner ## Edward Magrath S212 "M.Faraday ## R. Nicol
21 November 1 821 1 1. Cottingham Alfred Ainger C200 H. Robarts R. H. Solly
1 2 December 1 821 t Samuel Appleing Jr ** Edward Magrath AI72 W. G. Taylor t W. Skinner
19 December 1821 t Henry Brown R. H. Solly B289 * W. Newton R. Nicol
9 January 1 822 t Thomas V. Curtis * William Newton C205 *# E. Magrath S. F. Gray
9 January 1 822 t Charles Smith * William Newton S21 5 ** E. Magrath ** R. H. Solly
6 March 1822 ** Thomas Morson Michael Faraday M185 ** E. Magrath *# R. Nicol
1 7 April 1 822 t E. Hennell ** H. Hennell H203 ** R. H. Solly *# A. Ainger

Members or possible members of the City Philosophical Society who joined the Society of Arts or proposed
(excluding most of R. H. Solly's nominations). Source : RSA MS Subscription book, 1813-1825 and Minutes of the
for the seconders given two meetings before the date of election.

** = Known member of City Philosophical Society.

*= Person with same surname as a member of the City Philosophical Society.
t= Person proposed by a known or possible City Philosophical Society member.

Table 3 I

Date of proposal Member Proposer Seconders

24 November 1819 Samuel Simmons E. Binyon #* R. Nicol T. Gill
23 February 1 820 William Lewis S.Simmons *# R. Nicol ** M. Faraday
1 0 January 1 821 John Edward Todd t J. Morrison E. Magrath ** R. Nicol
31 January 1821 Robert Hennell W. G. Taylor ** E. Magrath J. Kidder
28 February 1 821 William Jordaine tG. Copeland E. Magrath * J. Dryden
1 4 March 1 821 Luke Sykes W. G. Taylor ** E. Magrath ** R. Nicol
12 December 1821 William Thomas R.A.Cottle * W. Newton ** M. Faraday
12 December 1821 Thomas Winkworth J. Smith ** R. Nicol ** E. Magrath
19 December 1821 Robert Wise J. Pope E. Magrath H. Robarts
9 January 1822 John Cole73 t W. Skinner E. Magrath H. Robarts
23 January 1 822 John Vanhouse t C. Smith #* E. Magrath T. M. Bagnold
1 3 February 1 822 Richard Bremridge R. Oliver A. Ainger E. Magrath
27 February 1822 Edward Beaumont Venn R. Oliver # W. Newton ** E. Magrath
1 5 May 1 822 Joshua Platt C. Hering R. Nicol ** E. Magrath
Members of the Society of Arts seconded by at least one known member (excluding R. H. Solly) of the Ci
Society. Source : RSA MS Minutes of the Society.

** = Known member of City Philosophical Society.

* = Person with same surname as a member of the City Philosophical Society.
t= Person proposed by a known or possible City Philosophical Society member.

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 MICHAEL FARADAY

I Table 4 I members of the City Philosophical Society migrated to

the Society of Arts.75 But Gladstone goes further and
Bostock Faraday Hennell Midgley Morson says that the City Philosophical Society members
1826 1826
formed themselves into a 'caucus' meeting in private
1827 1827
1828 1828 within the Society of Arts, which, taking advantage of
1829 1829 the democratic procedures of the Society of Arts
1830 1830 allowed them to exert great influence. In particular
1831 1831
Gladstone claimed that Magrath was a 'chair-maker'.76
1832 1832
1833 1833 The veracity of some of Gladstone's claims that he
1 834 1 834 makes in his biography have been called into question,
1835 1835 most notably his story of Faraday's dinner with Queen
1836 1836
1 837 1 837
Victoria;77 evidence derived solely from him has to be
treated with caution.
1838 1838
1839 1839 If one examines who chaired the committees during
1840 1840
the 1820s and 1830s then apart from the chemistry
1841 1841
committee the influence of City Philosophical Society
Chairmen of the members is not immediately
Chemistry apparent. However, the of
Committee th
Arts, 1826 to 1841. Source : RSA MS Minutes of the two chairmanships of the chemistry committee were
Society. more or less a City Philosophical Society fiefdom from
1826 to 1841. It was held by Faraday, Hennell and
Morson there being only three years during this period
(being proposed by those indicated by double or single when one of the chairmen was not from the City
stars) were members of the City Philosophical Society. Philosophical Society ( Table four).
Furthermore if we look at those who were, during If Gladstone overstated the case of City Philosophi-
this period, seconded by one or more known members cal Society influence on Society of Arts chairmen, he
of the City Philosophical Society74 ( Table three), then overlooked one instance of intensive lobbying by City
we have a list which again clearly indicates the activity Philosophical Society members. This was for the post
of City Philosophical Society members in proposing of Collector to the Society of Arts. This position,
new Society of Arts members. Whether or not these which involved collecting the membership fees of the
members formerly belonged to the City Philosophical Society of Arts became vacant on 10 November 1824
Society is a matter that will also have to be left for following the resignation of Henry Harrison, although
further research. it had been known for some time before that he was
Even if the seven positive identifications that I have planning to do so.78 On 23 November Faraday wrote
made were the only City Philosophical Society to Morson asking for his support for a fellow
members who joined the Society of Arts during this Sandemanian Joseph Chater to be elected.79 Further-
period then this is evidence which bears out John Hall more Faraday asked Morson to obtain the support of
Gladstone's assertion in his biography of Faraday that the lawyer David Pollock80 and the gas engineer

Table 5

Date Member Proposer Number Seconders

1 7 November 1 824 G. Villette H. Hennell V29 R.H.Solly R. Nicol
1 7 November 1 824 William Bollaert Michael Faraday B345 R.H.Solly E. Magrath
1 7 November 1 824 Joseph Fincher R. H. Solly Fl 1 6 E. Magrath M. Faraday
17 November 1824 James Douglas Edward Magrath D129 R. H. Solly H. Hennell
17 November 1824 W. G. Taylor Edward Magrath T108 M. Faraday H. Robarts

Society of Arts members proposed by City Philosophical Society members during the election for the post
Society of Arts. Source : RSA MS Subscription book, 1813-1825, and Minutes of the Society.

RSA JOURNAL, FEBRUARY 1992 ^7

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 THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY STUDY GROUP

Frederick Albert Winsor81 while Faraday wrote

Frankto
A. the
J. L. James (editors), Faraday Rediscovered: Essays on t
Life and Work of Michael Faraday (London, 1985, paperback
silk merchant Thomas Wink worth82 (who in 1826
For the Sandemanians and Faraday see Geoffrey Cantor, Mic
would become one of the chairmen of the committeeFaraday, Sandemanian and Scientist: A Study of Science and Relig
on manufactures and whose name occurred on Table the Nineteenth Century (London, 1991).
2. See list in John Hall Gladstone, Michael Faraday (3rd edition,
three) for support. Before that, in what looks suspi- London, 1874), pp. 172-5 which is incomplete.
ciously like a move to increase support for Chater, City 3. RSA MS Minutes of Council, 2 May 1866, 14: 172.
Philosophical Society members nominated, and with 4. Ibid., 4 April 1866, p. 166.
5. Ibid., 29 March 1865, p. 66.
one exception seconded, five new members to the 6. See John S. Skidmore, 'The Award of The Society's Alber
Society of Arts who would be entitled to vote in the to Napoleon III', /и/. RSA, 1989, 137: 652-7.
election. These included two employees of the Royal 7. Imperial Calendar 1810, 296; 1811, 312; 1812, 312; 1813, 30
300; 1815, 300; 1816, 300; 1817, 288; 1818, 288; 1819, 312; 182
Institution - William Bollaert and Joseph Fincher83 312; 1821, 318; 1822, 322; 1823, 272; 1824, 273.
(Table five). The campaign was successful and Chater 8. John Tatum (d. 1858, age 86, GRO Death Certificate): App
was elected with an overall majority on 20 December London directories until 1827. Probably same as John junior
Arthur G. Grimwade, London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837: Their
1824.84 He held this post until his death in 1838. (As a and Lives (2nd edition, London, 1982), p. 677. In the mid 182
postscript to this story on 19 January 1825, four sold his apparatus to the London Mechanics' Institution wher
gave some courses of lectures. See The London Mechanics' Regi
Chaters, a Barnard and a Ker-Reid (both Sandemanian
6 November 1824, pp. 4-5.
family names) were all elected to the Society of Arts at 9. Henry Bence Jones, The Life and Letters of Faraday (1st editi
Faraday's proposal).85 London, 1870), 1: 12.
10. 'City Philosophical Society', Phil. Mag., 1809, 34: 237-8.
One concluding point needs to be made and this is
11. See Faraday to Abbott, 20 September 1812 in Frank A.J. L
that it is fairly surprising that Faraday played any role in The Correspondence of Michael Faraday. Volume 1. 1811 to Decem
running the Society of Arts at all. Apart from the Royal 1831. Letters 1 to 524 (Stevenage, 1991), letter 11.
12. Faraday to Abbott, 28 September and 1 October 1812, ibid
Institution it is well known that Faraday took little part 12 and 13.
in running science and its institutions. For example he 13. See Faraday to Abbott, c.27June 1815 and 20 January 1817
letters 52 and 71.
declined the Presidency of the Royal Society86 and only
served on its Council with reluctance.87 Yet so far as the 14. Bence Jones, op. cit. (9), 1: 58.
15. See Benjamin Abbott, 'Jottings from Memory', IEE MS SC
Society of Arts was concerned Faraday was an active pp. 1-2.
and so far as one can tell enthusiastic member. This I 16. A. E. Jeffreys, Michael Faraday: A List of his Lectures and Published
Writings (London, 1960), entries 1, 2, 5-9, 13, 15-17, 19-20, 31,
think should be ascribed to the migration of the City 48-52.

Philosophical Society to the Society of Arts. We may 17. Bence Jones op. cit. (9), p. 58.
18. Laws of the City Philosophical Society (London, 1812), p. 11.
never know for certain how many made this journey.
19. Benjamin Abbott: DQB; op. cit. (15), p. 1.
But the involvement of so many of his early friends in 20. Alfred Ainger: DNB (second supplement under Alfred Ainger);
science in the Society of Arts, must have continuously Gladstone, op. cit. (2), p. 20.
21. Bo(w)yer: Faraday to Abbott, 20 September 1812, James op. cit.
reminded him of what he owed to the City Philosophi- (11), letter 11.
cal Society. 22. Castle: Faraday to Abbott, 6 September 1814, ibid., letter 37.
23. Chambers: Faraday to Abbott, 20 January 1817, ibid., letter 71.
I thank Dr Geoffrey Cantor, Dr David Gooding, Prof. Ian 24. Timothy Claxton, Memoir of a Mechanic (Boston, 1839), pp. 33.
25. Robert Cocking: GRO Death certificate; Faraday to Abbott, 23
Inkster, Mr Anthony F. P. Morson, Dr J. A. Secord and Dr Paul
September 1816, James op. cit. (11), letter 68; Secretaryship noted
Weindling for much useful information which appears in this paper in Imperial Calendar , op. cit. (7).
and for discussion of it. I thank the RS A, the Royal Institution 26. Dryden: S. P. Thompson, Michael Faraday, his life and work
(RI), the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), the General (London, 1898), p. 40.
27. William Joseph Goodwin: GRO Death certificate; Notes and
Register Office (GRO), the City of London Record Office Queries, 1868, 1: 483.
(CLRO) and Birkbeck College for permission to work on28. Henry Hennell: GRO Death certificate; Gladstone op. cit. (2),
manuscripts in their possession and Friends' House for access to the p. 20.
Dictionary of Quaker Biography (DQB). 29. William Hone: DNB; Abbott op. cit. (15), p. 1.
30. T. Huxtable: Bence Jones op cit. (9), 1: 13.
NOTES AND REFERENCES 31. Edward Magrath: GRO Death certificate; Bence Jones op. cit. (9),
1: 58; Secretaryship noted in Imperial Calendar, op. cit. (7). His
1. For Faraday generally see Geoffrey Cantor, David Gooding
address, 26 and
Wood Street, Cheapside, which he gave to the Society
Frank A.J. L.James, Faraday (London, 1991); David Gooding,
of Arts in 1820 (RSA MS 'Subscription Book, 1813-1825' M167)
was that of
Experiment and the Making of Meaning: Human Agency in Scientific the Ribbon manufacturer Samuel Hennell see
Observation and Experiment (Dordrecht, 1990); David Gooding and Commercial Guide, and Street Directory (London,
Johnstone, London
1817), part 1, col. 537.

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 MICHAEL FARADAY

32. Thomas Newborn Robert Morson: A. F. P. Morson, 57. Bence Jones

T. N.op. cit.
R.(9), 1: 58.
58. Claxton,
Morson and his Scientific Friends', Pharmaceut. Hist., 1990, op.20:
cit. (3),
(24), p. 34.
59. Ibid.,Pharm
4-8, (4), 6-7, p. 4. 'Thomas Newborn Robert Morson', 35. J.,
1874, 4: 726-7. 60. See 'A Class Book for the Reception of Mental Exercises instituted
33. Newton: Bence Jones op. cit. (9), 1: 12. July 1818', RI MS F13A. This seems to have followed the City
Philosophical
34. Robert Nicol: RSA MS 'Subscription Book, 1825-1840', N13;Society practice of passing a class book from one
Bence Jones, op. cit (9), 1: 12. The address, 88 Queen member
Street,to the next. See Bence Jones op. cit. (9), 1: 58.
Cheapside, given in Michael Faraday 'Common 61. Gladstone
Place Book',op. IEE
cit. (2), p. 21.
62. Jeffreys
MS SC2, p. 433 is the same as Nicol gave to the Society of op. cit. (16), entry 52.
Arts.
35. Thomas Joseph Pettigrew: DNB; Thomas Joseph 63.Pettigrew,
'An Act for the more effectually preventing Seditious Meetings and
Assemblies',
'Thomas Joseph Pettigrew, F.R.S.', Medical Portrait Gallery (4 57 Geo 3, cap XIX. For the general working of the
act so far as scientific meetings were concerned see Ian Inkster,
volumes, London, 1840), in volume 4 (each article separately
paginated), p. 10. 'London Science and the Seditious Meetings Act of 1817', Brit. J.
36. Richard Phillips: DNB; Thompson op. cit. (26), p. 7. Hist. Sci., 1979, 12: 192-6, Paul Weindling, 'Science and Sedition:
37. J. Shepherd: Faraday to Abbott, 28 September 1812, James How Effective were the Acts Licensing Lectures and Meetings,
op. cit.
(11), letter 12; Secretaryship noted in Imperial Calendar 1795-1819?',
, op. cit. ibid.,
(7).1980, 13: 139-53, Ian Inkster, 'Seditious Science:
38. R. H. Solly: DNB; Gladstone op. cit. (2), p. 20. A Reply to Paul Weindling', ibid., 1981, 14: 181-7.
39. 64.21.
Cornelius Varley: DNB; Gladstone op. cit. (2), p. 'Petition of John Tatum,' CLRO, London Peace Papers, April
1817.
40. Williams: Abbott, op. cit. (15), p. 1.
41. Charles Woodward: Islington Gaz., 23 April 1877,65. Parliamentary
p. 2; J. B. Debates, 1817, 36: col. 83.
66. Ibid.
Tippetts, A Report of the Proceedings at a Meeting Held in the Theatre
67. 'London
of the Institution on Friday Evening, the 12th November, Session
1858, on the Rough Entry Minute Book,' 2 May 1817, CLRO
SMR 1?
occasion of Presenting a Testimonial from Members of the Islington
Literary & Scientific Society, to Charles Woodward, 68.Esq.,
RSA F.R.S.
MS Soc. Min, 23 April 1817, pp. 225-6; 30 April 1817,
President of the Society (London, 1858), pp. 23-4. pp. 233-4; 7 May 1817, pp. 243-5; 14 May 1817, pp. 253-7.
42. In addition the radical publisher Effingham Wilson 69. (c.
'L.M.I.
1783-Members
1868, Register, December 1824 to September 1826,'
City Press, 18 July 1868, p. 5) may have been involved Birkbeck College Archives. Hone's membership number is 3663
with the
Society for he published four lectures given there. These and Tatum's
were M.1524. Tatum as a lecturer was evidently keen to
continue his and
Faraday, Some Observations on the Means of Obtaining Knowledge work within the new institutional arrangements. Hone
on the Facilities Afforded by the Constitution of the CityisPhilosophical
an exception to most rules.
70. Richard
Society (London, 1817), and Anonymous, Three Familiar Chambers
Lectures on (1784-1858), botanist and educationalist. See
J. Linn. Soc., 1859, 4: xxx-xxxi.
Craniological Physiognomy, delivered before the City Philosophical
71. William
Society (London, 1816). Wilson's obituary also records that heNewton
was gave his address as the College of Physicians, but
a friend of Hone's. it is not clear what his connection was.

43. For example I would have been unhappy about Solly 72. James Dryden was a Bombazeen warehouseman see Pigot, London
s membership
were it not for the fact that he proposed Hcnnell for & Provincial New Commercial Directory For 1822-3 (London), p. 32.
r-iembership
of the Society of Arts (see Table 2) and was also a73. 'Coal'
close is given
friend ofas a member of the City Philosophical Society in
Morson's (N. Neal Solly, Memoir of the Life of William 'Quarterly Night', op. cit. (46), p. 141.
James Müllei
(London, 1875), p. 96). The same source also states74. Excluding
that he wasthose
a by Solly who had many other sources of contact
friend of Varley 's. apart from the City Philosophical Society.
44. Abbott op. cit. (15), p. 4; DQB. 75. Gladstone op. cit. (2), p. 21.
76. Ibid.
45. GRO Death certificate; see reports of the inquest in Times 27 July
77.b-e.
1837, p. 6, cols, d & e, and 29 July 1837, p. 6, cols. Geoffrey Cantor, Why was Faraday excluded from the
46. 'Quarterly Night' in Faraday op. cit. (34), pp. 137-58. Sandemanians in 1844?', Brit. J. Hist. Sci., 1989, 22: 433-7.
In the poem
various members of the City Philosophical Society 78. Harrison
are given to Aikin, 10 November 1824 in RSA MS Soc. Min.,
corrupted versions of their names. Thus Magrath becomes 10 November 1824, pp. 22-3.
Maghead (p. 145) and Nicol, Nickall (p. 142) and 79.
so Faraday to Morson, 23 November 1824, James op. cit. (11), letter
on. Extracts
relating to Faraday (pp. 147-8) are given in Thompson245.op.Joseph
cit. Chater (d. 1838, age 71, GRO Death certificate),
(26), pp. 40-1 (who identifies the author) and GladstoneCantor op. cit. (1), appendix B.
op. cit.
80. David Pollock, 1780-1847, DNB.
(2), p. 11.
47. Bence Iones op. cit. (9), 1: 13. 81. Frederick Albert Winsor, 1763-1830, DNB.
48. Ibid., 1: 58; Thompson op. cit. (26), p. 60. 82. Faraday to Winkworth, November-December 1824, James op. cit.
49. Johnstone op. cit. (31), part 1, col. 256. (11), letter 246. Thomas Winkworth, 1790-1865, J. Soc. Arts , 1865,
13: 708.
50. Abbott op. cit. (15), p. 1.
51. Cantor op. cit. (1), appendix В. Faraday made his confession of 83. William Bollaert (1807-1876), Laboratory Assistant at the Royal
faith in 1821 and Varley in 1844 (although he left in 1847). Institution, 1820-5, see W. H. Brock, 'William Bollaert, Faraday
52. Claxton op. cit. (24), p. 63. At least when he was in America, and the Royal Institution', Proc. Roy. Inst., 1968, 42: 75-86. Joseph
though he called himself a 'churchman'. Fincher, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Institution, 1810-1846.
53. Morson: Private communication from A. F. P. Morson; Pettigrew: 84. RSA MS Soc. Min., 20 December 1824, pp. 55-8.
Warren R. Dawson, 'Life and Times of Thomas Joseph Pettigrew', 85. RSA MS Subscription Book, 1813-1825, C238-41, B347 and
Med. Life , 1931, 38: 1-64, 67-128, 131-6, p. 33; Solly was a R138. All of these were seconded by Magrath and Oliver, RSA
graduate of Cambridge University; Woodward: Tippetts op. cit. MS Soc. Min., 22 December 1824, pp. 64-5.
(41), p. 20. 86. Thompson op. cit. (26), p. 255.
54. Laws op. cit. (18), p. 18. 87. Faraday to Pettigrew, 20 November 1830, James op. cit. (11), letter
467.
55. Claxton op. cit. (24), p. 34.
56. Pettigrew op. cit. (35), p. 10.

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