CHAPTER V 



PRESIDENTSHIP OF SIR JOHN PRINGLE, 1772-1778 



1772. THE year 1772 was marked by changes in the Presi- 

 dency of the Royal Society and consequently in the Chairman- 

 ship of the Club. By the death of James West on 2nd July 

 both offices became vacant. The Council of the Society 

 again elected James Burrow to fill the chair temporarily 

 until the Anniversary on 3oth November. And the Club 

 likewise chose him to preside at their dinners until a new 

 President was found for the Society. In his absence Sir 

 John Pringle usually took the chair, or if he too were absent 

 Henry Cavendish was chairman. On November 30, being 

 St. Andrew's day, the Royal Society chose Sir John Pringle 

 as the President, and during the last weeks of the year he 

 always presided at the Club. In the twenty years that 

 had passed since he became a member of the Club his reputa- 

 tion as a physician and man of affairs had been steadily 

 increasing. His great work " Observations on the Diseases 

 of the Army," which was published in 1752, attracted atten- 

 tion not only in this country but all over the Continent, 

 and became a classic in military literature. His high position 

 among the physicians of his day gave him great influence 

 in Society and enabled him to advance the progress of 

 science. His kindness of heart led him to befriend many 

 of the younger scientific men of his time. His devotion to 

 the interests of the Royal Society Club continued unfailing 

 all through his tenure of the Presidentship. No previous 

 President had be^n so constant in his attendance at the 



