A Short History of the Birmingham Lunar Society

During the eighteenth century, many intellectuals and gentlemen of wealthier classes hosted various political, social, philosophical, and scientific discussion groups. These discussion groups usually included food and drink. Founded by Matthew Boulton in Birmingham, Britain, the Birmingham Lunar Society was one of these clubs.

The meetings of the Birmingham Lunar Society were held on nights of the full moon (thus the name Birmingham Lunar Society). This helped members find their way to meetings. Mr. Boulton gathered the Lunar Society at his residence at the Soho House.

The members of the Birmingham Lunar Society consisted of Matthew Boulton’s brightest friends,the intellectual elite. All of the members of the society were chosen because of their special area of expertise. Thus, membership was very exclusive. Only fourteen members were allowed at a time. The members of this society all accomplished extraordinary goals. For example, Matthew Boulton created one of the very first modern factories and also helped establish the Birmingham Theater and the development of the general hospital. Other members included James Watt (whorevolutionized industry with his steam engine), Josiah Wedgewood (whose scientific precision gave industrial pottery its birth), Erasmus Darwin (who wrote about medicine and botany and anticipated the his grandson's theory of evolution), Joseph Priestly (who isolated oxygen), and William Withering (who used his knowledge about plants to acquire a cure for dropsy).

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