The Lunar Society's End?

Even with all the Birmingham Lunar Society accomplished, the society eventually started to fall apart. Problems among the society started occurring after William Small, the leader of the group, passed away in 1775. As the same time, the American Revolution started to become a hot topic for discussion for the Lunar Society. Everyone except Boulton, a loyal Tory, sided with the radicals, but Boulton later sided with the other members (he first disagreed because of the issue of slavery). Boulton and the other members had another quarrel about the French Revolution (Boulton was against it). The supporters of the revolution held a celebratory dinner for the cause. However, the Tories were angered by this and started to riot against Priestley and all the other radicals. Priestley was forced to escape to America. The Society could never return to its orginal state. Watt commented on the banishment of Priestley saying, “[it] almost broke up our Lunar Society.”

Jenny Uglow wrote about this in her book, The Lunar Men. She described Priestley's banishment as "the beginning of the end." For the New York Times's book review of The Lunar Men, click here.