Dublin Philosophical Society

Dublin Philosophical Society (1683–1708), founded by William Molyneux, the 14 founder members rising to 33 by 1685. William Petty was first president; prominent figures over the years included Narcissus Marsh, William King and George Berkeley. Most members were graduates of Trinity College, Dublin, and they included a higher percentage of clerics than in most other scientific societies; there was at least one Catholic but no Dissenter. The society had external ties, notably with the Royal Society, London, which elected fourteen of the Dublin society to fellowships. Minutes of Dublin meetings were sent to the Royal Society, which published articles from Dublin in the Philosophical Transactions.

The society had three periods of activity: 1683–7 (when war interrupted proceedings), 1692–8 (when the society petered out), 1707–8 (a shortlived revival). Most activites were devoted to scientific papers read at meetings, but Petty encouraged programmes of experimentation: as well as studying the mathematical and life sciences, members undertook utilitarian work in agriculture, military technology, textiles, and transportation. Limited as its achievements were, the society was the first attempt to sustain collaborative scientific work in Ireland, and inspired other Irish learned societies of the 18th century.

David Sturdy