Society of Entomologists of London
Encyclopedia
The Society of Entomologists of London was one of a series of brief-lived entomological societies based in London
.The members met to exhibit, identify and exchange, sell or purchase insects which were sometimes very expensive as were books. Entomology was limited to the wealthy. It was a time of colonial expansion and exotica of all kinds flooded into trade centres such as London
or Amsterdam
. These included shells
as well as insects and many entomologists collected these too.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.The members met to exhibit, identify and exchange, sell or purchase insects which were sometimes very expensive as were books. Entomology was limited to the wealthy. It was a time of colonial expansion and exotica of all kinds flooded into trade centres such as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
or Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. These included shells
Conchology
Conchology is the scientific or amateur study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs, however malacology studies molluscs as whole organisms, not just their shells. Conchology pre-dated malacology as a field of study. It includes the study of land and...
as well as insects and many entomologists collected these too.
Chronology
- 1745 is the first definite year for the Aurelian SocietyAurelian (entomology)Aurelian is an archaic word for lepidopterist, one who is interested in butterflies. The term is derived from aurelia, meaning chrysalis, and relates to the golden color it may attain just before the butterfly emerges; the Latin word for gold is aurum.The Society of Aurelians in London, England,...
of London but it was almost certainly already in existence before that year. The Aurelian Society disbanded after a fire in 1748 destroyed the Library and records of the Society. It is claimed to be the first entomological society in the world although there were similar groups in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
states. Moses HarrisMoses HarrisMoses Harris was an English entomologist and engraver.In the Natural System of Colours he examined the work of Isaac Newton and tried to reveal the multitude of colours which can be created from three basic ones...
was a member.
- 1762 saw the formation of the second Aurelian Society, which survived only a few years.
- 1780 was the foundation year of the Society of Entomologists of London, which survived until August 1782. Dru DruryDru DruryDru Drury was a British entomologist, one of the foremost of his time.He was born in Wood Lane, London. His father was a silversmith, and Dru took over the business in 1748. He retired as a silversmith in 1789 to devote his time entirely to entomology...
was a member.
- 1801 saw a third Aurelian Society, which survived until April, 1806, when it was dissolved.
- 1806 was the year in which former Aurelians formed a new society entitled the Entomological Society (later called the Entomological Society of London).
- 1815 In the Waterloo year the last of the three parts of its [one-volume] Transactions had appeared, the Entomological Society of London went into decline, and met only occasionally until 1822.
- 1822 several of the members of the Society set up another Society, the Entomological Society of Great Britain, and the Entomological Society of London was adjourned for a year.
- 1824 saw most of the members of the two latter societies joined with various members of the Linnean Society of LondonLinnean Society of LondonThe Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
to found the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society of London, which later became the Zoological Society of LondonZoological Society of LondonThe Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
.
- In 1826 another entomological society was formed, the Entomological Club. The Club was at first scientific and published the Entomological Magazine (from September 1832 to October,1838) but later evolved into a dining club which it remained until 1933.
- 1833 In May of this year, the second Entomological Society of London was formed. It is the present Royal Entomological Society of LondonRoyal Entomological Society of LondonThe Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
.