the oldest and most respected scientific society in the UK, started in the 17th century. Its members are called "Fellows" and they are elected if they have done high-quality work in any area of science. There is a similar society for people working in the humanities (=subjects such as language, literature, and history) , called the British Academy. Oldest scientific society in Britain. Founded in 1660, its early members included Robert Hooke, Christopher Wren, Isaac Newton, and Edmond Halley. It provided an impetus to scientific thought and developments in England, and its achievements became internationally famous. Philosophical Transactions, one of the earliest periodicals in the West (1665), publishes scientific papers; abstracts of papers appear in the Proceedings. The society awards several prestigious medals. At the beginning of the 21st century, the society had some 1,250 fellows and 120 foreign members
an honorary English society (formalized in 1660 and given a Royal Charter by Charles II in 1662) through which the British government has supported science