FORMER PRESIDENTS 203 



Tenure of Office. 



to the Earl of Stair (1742), and Physician-General to the Forces in Flanders (1744). 

 Afterwards Physician to the Forces ordered to march against the Pretender's 

 adherents in Scotland. Reformed military medicine and sanitation. His ' Observa- 

 tions on the Diseases of the Army' (1752) attained a European reputation, and has 

 become a classic. In 1764 Physician in Ordinary to the Queen. In 1774 Physician 

 to the King. Author of medical works, especially on Military Hygiene, and of 

 several papers read before the Royal Society/ 



Sir Joseph Banks, Bart Nov. 30, 1778-June 19, 1820 



b. Feb. 13, 1743-4; rf. June 19, 1820. D.C.L. (Oxon.). In 1766 accompanied 

 Lieut. Phipps to Newfoundland and Labrador, where he made collections in 

 Natural History. In 1768 joined Captain Cook in his first voyage of discovery. 

 In 1772 fitted out and accompanied a scientific expedition to Iceland, where he 

 made large Natural History collections, and purchased numerous Icelandic books 

 and manuscripts, all of which he presented to the British Museum. Baronet 

 (1781) ; Privy Councillor (1797). 



William Hyde Wollaston June 29, 1820-Nov. 30, 1820 



b. Aug. 6, 1766 ; d. Dec. 22, 1828. Studied for Medicine, and became a Tancred 

 Fellow at Cambridge. M.D. (Camb.). In 1789 settled at Bury St. Edmunds as 

 a physician. From 1797 to his death a constant contributor to the ' Philosophical 

 Transactions', in which appear thirty-nine important papers in Chemistry, 

 Astronomy, Optics, Mechanics, Acoustics, Mineralogy, Crystallography, Physio- 

 logy, Pathology, and Botany. He was the discoverer of palladium (1804) and 

 rhodium (1805), and was the first to notice the dark lines in the solar spectrum. 

 In 1828 he described his method for rendering platinum malleable. He 

 established the Donation Fund of the Royal Society (see p. 177). 



Sir Humphry Davy, Bart Nov. 30, 1820-Nov. 6, 1827 



b. at Penzance, Dec. 17, 1778 ; d. at Geneva, May 29, 1829. LL.D. (Dublin). 

 Superintendent of Dr. Beddoes's Pneumatic Institution at Bristol (1798), where he 

 discovered the anaesthetic properties of nitrous oxide. Director of the Laboratory 

 of the Royal Institution (1801). Isolated the metals of the alkalis (1806). De- 

 monstrated the elementary nature of chlorine (1810). Investigated the properties 

 of iodine (1813). Invented the Miner's Safety-lamp (1815) ; the first safety-lamp 

 is still in the possession of the Society. Copley Medallist (1805). He contributed 

 forty-six memoirs and lectures to the ( Philosophical Transactions '. 



Davies Gilbert (formerly Giddy) Nov. 6, 1827-Nov. 30, 1830 



b. March 6, 1767 ; d. Nov. 7, 1839. M. A., D.C.L. (Oxon.). High Sheriff of Cornwall 

 (1792-3). M.P. for Bodmin (1806). ' He took a prominent part in parliamentary 

 investigations connected with the arts and sciences ' (' Diet. Nat. Biog.'). In 

 1819 he suggested, with success, the establishment of the Observatory at the Cape 

 of Good Hope. He contributed several papers to the ' Philosophical Trans- 

 actions ' . 



H.R.H. The Duke of Sussex Nov. 30, 1830-Nov. 30, 1838 



Augustus Frederick, sixth son of George III. b. Jan. 27, 1773; rf. April 21, 1843. 

 During his tenure of office he constantly presided at all meetings of the Council 

 and Society. 



