A Very Short History of the New Lunar Society

The Vic, in Beeston, Nottingham

 

The original Lunar Society was effectively an early ‘Dragon’s Den’ that included key industrialists, inventors and thinkers in the 18th Century – individuals such as Erasmus Darwin, Matthew Boulton, Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestley, James Watt, etc. all of whom had some connection with the Midlands, not least Birmingham, Lichfield and Derby. These and others broadly from the Midlands area set up the key infrastructure and growth in mechanical and chemical knowledge to bring about modern society – from inventing steam engines, building canals, and creating ever-efficient industry to breaking new ground in geology, chemistry, physics and so forth. Darwin was a key figure in the LS. He lived in at Cathedral Close in Lichfield before moving to Derby where set up a kind of off-shoot, I guess, of the Lunar Society: The Derbyshire Philosphy Society. This group met at the King’s Head (further info welcome) and incorporated a ‘book sharing’ scheme! Let’s hope our more modest initiative brings a happy mix of companionship and ideas.

Our meetings will be at the home of fine ales and good company, the Vic…

A fine choice of ales