Royal Society of London

Timeline

1. 1660–1662Gresham College, London · LondonIn November 1660, a group of London natural philosophers met at Gresham College, continuing the pre-Civil War 'Invisible College' tradition, and resolved to found a scholarly body centered on experiment and observation, laying the organizational foundation for the Royal Society.
2. 1662–1665London · LondonIn 1662 Charles II granted a royal charter, giving the society the title 'Royal Society' and corporate status; in 1665 it launched the Philosophical Transactions, one of the world's earliest peer-reviewed scientific journals, marking the society's entry into institutionalized operation.
3. 1666–1670London · LondonAfter the Great Plague (1665) and the Great Fire (1666) of London, the society participated in urban reconstruction and scientific investigation; Hooke served as Curator of Experiments, advancing microscopy, mechanics experiments, and surveying, and by around 1670 the society had become a benchmark institution of experimental science in Europe.