Science City: London 1550–1800

Between 1550 and 1800, science changed profoundly. Our understanding of the world around us was transformed by scientific discoveries.

From the observation of previously unidentified planets to the identification of underlying physical principles of the universe, this period changed how we understood and researched the world around us. The practice of science itself also changed, beginning to acquire characteristics that we associate with modern science today, from the carrying out of experiments to the preoccupation with precision measurement.

New kinds of institutions fostered and championed these new practices and served as hubs for debating and disseminating scientific discoveries. Founded in 1660 the Royal Society was, and continues to be, one of Britain’s most important and active scientific establishments.

A group of men meeting in a dark room, they are dressed in seventeenth century coats and breeches

The 17th century society that transformed science

Today, the Royal Society is the world’s oldest national scientific academy—but how did it come to be?

Image shows him standing with his left arm on hip looking to his left. He is wearing furs, robes and regalia

George III: a royal passion for science

In his youth, King George III was energetic in the pursuit of his interest in natural philosophy—the term then used to describe what we know today as science.

Group photograph of Polished steel equal arm balance; 11 1/4"

The New Science: 1550–1800

Today it is easy to take for granted that experiments can be conducted to improve our understanding and knowledge of the natural world around us, but in the first half of the seventeenth century this was not the case.

Zoom of a mezzotint of Sir Isaac Newton, the zoom focuses on his face and he has a concerend expression

Isaac Newton in London

Isaac Newton is best known for his theory of gravity and laws of motion, work he did while he was an academic professor in Cambridge. But he had a second life – as a public figure in London.

Crescent of uranus on a black background

Uranus: the first planet discovered with a telescope

When Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, was discovered in 1781, it expanded the known limits of our solar system. It was also the first planet to be discovered using a telescope.

Painting of the great fire of London, showing the river thames in the foreground and a city on fire in the backgroud in a palette of red, orangee and yellow

Great fire of London: How science rebuilt a city

The Great Fire of 1666 brought great tragedy to London, but also new opportunities. Fellows of the Royal Society and other natural philosophers began to influence the look and feel of the city through the rebuilding process.