Spalding Gentlemen’s Society

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The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society is one of the learned societies of the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1710 by Maurice Johnson, (1688-1755), called The Antiquary, of Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding.

[edit] History

The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society started in 1710 with informal meetings of a few gentlemen at a local coffee house in Spalding called 'Youngers'. Many gentlemen's clubs formed in this way. They talked about local antiquities and discussed the popular London newspaper The Tatler. In 1712 the society was organised in more formal way as a Society of Gentlemen, for the supporting of mutual benevolence, and their improvement in the liberal sciences and in polite learning. Officers were appointed and minutes were kept. Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch (1695-1751), became Patron of the Society in 1732.

[edit] Notable members

• Sir Isaac Newton
• Sir Hans Sloane, President of the Royal Society, whose museum and library formed the nucleus of the British Museum
• "Honest Tom" Martin, the antiquary
• Alexander Pope, the poet
• George Vertue, the engraver
• Dr. William Stukeley
• John Anstis, F.R.S. Garter King of Arms
• John Gay, the poet
• Rev. Richard Bentley, D.D.
• Captain John Perry, the engineer
• Sir Joseph Banks
• Sir George Gilbert Scott
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• Pishey Thompson, the historian of Boston
• Lord Curzon of Kedleston
• Lord Peckover of Wisbech
• Lord Ancaster, the Society’s Patron from 1960 to 1983

[edit] Source

• Spalding Gentlemen’s Society
• Spalding Gentlemen’s Society (U. of Waterloo)
• Maurice Johnson
• Dorothy Mary Owen, S W Woodward, The minute-books of The Spalding Gentlemen's Society, 1712-1755, Lincoln Record Society, 1981