Corporate Body

Australian Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Science, Commerce and Agriculture (1850 - 1856)

From
19 January 1850
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
To
1856
Functions
Learned society and Natural history
Alternative Names
  • Australian Philosophical Society (Also known as)
  • Australian Society (Also known as)
Location
New South Wales

Summary

Australian Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Science, Commerce and Agriculture (more usually known as the Australian Philosophical Society) was established in 1850. Its focus was reflected in its title, with emphasis on economic advantage for the colony. Cataloging the colony's natural resources was a priority. (This was the second attempt to establish a such a society in New South Wales, the first being the Philosophical Society of Australasia 1821 - 1822). No meetings seem to have been held after May 1851. William Denison, newly arrived in 1855 as Governor of New South Wales and noted for his scientific interests, urged the reconstitution of the Society on the remaining members. The Philosophical Society of New South Wales began in May 1856 with Denison as President.

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Timeline

 1850 - 1856 Australian Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Science, Commerce and Agriculture
       1856 - 1866 Philosophical Society of New South Wales
             1866 - Royal Society of New South Wales

Related People

Published resources

Books

  • Coote, Anne, Knowledge for a nation : origins of the Royal Society of New South Wales (St Leonards, N.S.W.: Royal Society of New South Wales, 2024), 304 pp. Details

Journal Articles

  • Clarke, W. B., 'Inaugural Address to the Royal Society, delivered at its first meeting, 9th July, 1867', Transactions of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 1 (1868), 1-27. Details
  • Day, A. A. and Day, J. A. F., 'A biographical register of Members of the Australian Philosophical Society (1850 -55) and the Philosophical Society of New South Wales (1856-66): part I', Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 117 (1984), 119-27. Details
  • Day, A. A. and Day, J. A. F., 'A biographical register of Members of the Australian Philosophical Society (1850 -55) and the Philosophical Society of New South Wales (1856-66): part II', Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 129 (1996), 123-37. Details
  • Maiden, J. H., 'A Contribution to a History of the Royal Society of New South Wales, with Information in Regard to Other New South Wales Societies', Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales, lii (1918), 215-361. Details
  • Tyler, Peter J., 'Science for Gentlemen: the Royal Society of New South Wales in the Nineteenth Century', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 143 (1/2) (2010), 29-43. Details

Resources

See also

  • Elkin, A. P., 'Centenary oration: the challenge to science, 1866; the challenge of science, 1966, part 1', Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales, 100 (3/4) (1966), 105-18. Details

Ailie Smith and Helen Cohn

Created: 28 November 2000, Last modified: 29 April 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/A000832b.htm

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