Search the Collection

57 people matching these criteria:

- group '311'


Presidents of the Royal Society


The Royal Society was established in 1660 by a group including Sir Christopher Wren, as 'a Colledge for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematicall Experimentall Learning'. It gained approval from Charles II and acquired a Royal Charter in 1662. The President is elected by the society's council, presides over meetings and is chairman of the Trustees. Initially there was no limit on the time a president could serve. Since 1870, it has been tradition for the President to serve for a 5 year period. In a backlash against the election of wealthy amateurs to position of President, the decision was made in 1847 to elect the President based solely on their scientific credentials.

Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker

Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker

1817-1911
Botanist
Sitter in 14 portraits
Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins

Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins

1861-1947
Biochemist
Sitter in 4 portraits
Sir John Hoskins, 2nd Bt

Sir John Hoskins, 2nd Bt

1634-1705
Master in Chancery and President of the Royal Society
Sitter in 3 portraits
Sir William Huggins

Sir William Huggins

1824-1910
Astronomer
Sitter in 4 portraits
Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley

Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley

1917-2012
Physiologist
Sitter in 9 portraits
Thomas Henry Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley

1825-1895
Biologist and science educationist
Sitter in 48 portraits
William Thomson, Baron Kelvin

William Thomson, Baron Kelvin

1824-1907
Mathematician, physicist and inventor
Sitter in 30 portraits
Sir Aaron Klug

Sir Aaron Klug

1926-2018
Molecular biologist
Sitter in 2 portraits
Joseph Lister, Baron Lister

Joseph Lister, Baron Lister

1827-1912
Surgeon and founder of a system of antiseptic surgery
Sitter in 16 portraits
George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield

George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield

circa 1697-1764
Astronomer and politician
Sitter in 1 portrait
Robert McCredie May, Baron May of Oxford

Robert McCredie May, Baron May of Oxford

1936-2020
Zoologist, ecologist and scientific adviser
Sitter in 3 portraits
Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton

1642-1727
Mathematical scientist
Sitter associated with 46 portraits
Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton

Spencer Joshua Alwyne Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton

1790-1851
President of the Royal Society
Sitter in 5 portraits
Paul Nurse

Paul Nurse

1949-
Biochemist
Sitter in 3 portraits
Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys

1633-1703
Diarist and naval administrator
Sitter in 12 portraits
George Porter, Baron Porter

George Porter, Baron Porter

1920-2002
Chemist
Sitter in 3 portraits
Sir John Pringle, Bt

Sir John Pringle, Bt

1707-1782
Physician
Sitter in 1 portrait
John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh

John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh

1842-1919
Experimental and mathematical physicist
Sitter in 6 portraits
Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow

Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow

1942-
Professor of Astronomy and Cosmology and President of the Royal Society
Sitter in 3 portraits