Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society

Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society is a Learned society in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1819, and its museum collection forms the basis of Leeds City Museum, which reopened in September 2008. The printed works and papers of the society are held by Leeds University Library.[1][2] The Society is a registered charity under English law.[3]

Blue plaque, HSBC, Park Row, Leeds (25 August 2017) – marking site of Leeds' Philosophical Hall

Among the early members of the society were John Marshall (President, 1820–26), Benjamin Gott, William Hey (President, 1831–33), and Edward Baines and his son, Sir Edward Baines. Richard Reynolds was an honorary secretary. More recent Presidents include John Le Patourel (1966–68).[4]

List of Presidents

The following have been presidents of the society:[4]

• 1820–26: John Marshall
• 1826–28: Rev. W. H. Bathurst, M.A.
• 1828–31: Michael Thomas Sadler, M.P.
• 1831–33: William Hey
• 1833–35: James Williamson, M.D.
• 1835–37: Rev. Joseph Holmes, M.A.
• 1837–40: Rev. Richard Winter Hamilton
• 1840–42: Adam Hunter, M.D.
• 1842–45: John Hope Shaw
• 1845–50: Rev. William Sinclair, M.A.
• 1850–51: William West, F.R.S.
• 1851–54: Rev. Charles Wicksteed, B.D.
• 1854–57: John Hope Shaw
• 1857–58: James Garth Marshall, F.G.S.
• 1858–59: Rev. W. F. Hook, D.D.
• 1859–61: Rev. Alfred Barry, M.A.
• 1861–63: Thomas Pridgin Teale, F.R.S.
• 1863–66: Rev. Thomas Hincks, B.A.
• 1866–68: Charles Chadwick, M.D.
• 1868–72: John Deakin Heaton, M.D.
• 1872–74: Rev. Canon Woodford, D.D.
• 1874–76: J. I. Ikin, F.R.C.S.
• 1876–78: Rev. J. H. McCheane, M.A.
• 1878–81: T. Clifford Allbutt, M.D., F.R.S.
• 1881–83: Rev. John Gott, D.D.
• 1883–85: J. E. Eddison, M.D.
• 1885–86: Edward Atkinson, F.L.S.
• 1886–89: Thomas Marshall, M.A.
• 1889–92: Thomas Pridgin Teale, M.A., F.R.S.
• 1892–94: Rev. J. H. D. Matthews, M.A.
• 1894–96: Rev. Charles Hargrove, M.A.
• 1896–98: Edmund Wilson, F.S.A.
• 1898–1900: Nathan Bodington, M.A., Litt.D.
• 1900–02: J. H. Wicksteed, President Inst.M.E.
• 1902–04: Arthur Smithells, B.Sc., F.R.S.
• 1904–06: J. E. Eddison, M.D.
• 1906–09: E. Kitson Clark, M.A., F.S.A., M.Inst.C.E.
• 1909–11: Rev. J. R. Wynne-Edwards, M.A.
• 1911–12: C. T. Whitmell, M.A., B.Sc., F.R.A.S.
• 1912–14: P. F. Kendall, M.Sc., F.G.S.
• 1914–17: Rev. W. H. Draper, M.A.
• 1917–19: James E. Bedford, F.G.S.
• 1919–22: Sydney D. Kitson, M.A., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
• 1922–24: Arthur J. Grant, M.A.
• 1924–26: Walter Garstang, M.A., D.Sc., F.Z.S.
• 1926–28: Edwin Hawkesworth
• 1928–30: Frederick Woodward Branson, F.I.C.
• 1930–32: E. O. Dodgson
• 1932–34: A. Gilligan, D.Sc., F.G.S.
• 1934–36: Richard Whiddington, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.
• 1936–39: Hugh R. Lupton, M.C., M.A.
• 1939–46: W. M. Edwards, M.C., M.A.
• 1946–48: E. A. Spaul, D.Sc., Ph.D.
• 1948–50: W. L. Andrews
• 1950–52: J. N. Tetley, D.S.O., LL.D.
• 1952–54: Terry Thomas, M.A., LL.D., B.Sc., Ph.D.
• 1954–56: H. C. Versey, D.Sc., F.G.S.,
• 1956–58: H. S. Vick, J.P.
• 1958–60: H. Orton, M.A., B.Litt.
• 1960–62: Sir George Martin, LL.D., J.P.
• 1962–64: E. J. Wood, M.A.
• 1964–66: Reginald Dawson Preston, D.Sc., F.R.S., F.Inst.P.
• 1966–68: John Le Patourel, M.A., D.Phil.
• 1968–70: G. P. Meredith, M.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D.
• 1970–72: J. G. Wilson, M.A., Ph.D., F.Inst.P.
• 1972–74: J. Taylor, M.A.
• 1974–76: H. Henson, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
• 1976–78: P. R. J. Burch, M.A., Ph.D.
• 1978–81: R. Reed, M.Sc., Ph.D
• 1981–83: Lord Marshall of Leeds, M.A., LL.B.
• 1983–85: B. R. Hartley, M.A., F.S.A.
• 1985–87: Dennis Cox, B.A., A.L.A.
• 1987–89: B. Colville, M.B., B.S., F.R.C.G.P.
• 1989–91: I. S. Moxon, M.A., B.A.
• 1991–93: R. F. M. Byrn, M.A., Ph.D.
• 1993–95: Mrs J. E. Mortimer, B.A.
• 1995–97: A. C. Chadwick, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., C.Biol., F.I.Biol., F.R.G.S.
• 1997–99: O. S. Pickering, B.A., B.Phil., Ph.D., Dip.Lib.
• 1999–2003: P. J. Evennett, B.Sc., Ph.D., Hon. F.R.M.S.
• 2004–06: M. R. D. Seaward, M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., F.L.S.
• 2007–09: C. J. Hatton, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Phys., F.Inst.P.
• 2010–13: A. C. T. North, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Phys., F.Inst.P.
• 2014-16: J. M. Hill B.A., D.Phil., D.Univ., F.E.A., F.R.S.A.
• 2016–19 : C. J. Hatton, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Phys., F.Inst.P.
• 2020–: G. E. Blair, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.B., F.L.S.

Former Curators of the Museum (1821–1921)

• John Atkinson
• Henry Denny
• Louis Compton Miall
• Henry Crowther

Other notable figures connected to the society

• Etheldred Benett – donor
• Alexander Crichton – donor
• Violet Crowther - curator
• James Motley – donor
• Washington Teasdale – member
• John Joseph Willson – member
• William Middleton and his son John William Middleton – subscriber and new ordinary member respectively in 1852–53[5]
• Francis Lupton – proprietary member in 1852–53[5]
• James Kitson, 1st Baron Airedale and his father James Kitson, Mayor of Leeds – new proprietary member and subscriber respectively in 1852–53[5]

References

1. "Subject guide to printed collections: Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society". Leeds University Library: Special collections. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
2. "Papers of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society MS Deposit 1975/1" (PDF). Leeds University Library: Special collections. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
3. Charity Commission. LEEDS PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY SOCIETY LIMITED, registered charity no. 224084.
4. "History". The Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
5. Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society – Established 1819–20 – Report of the Council at the Close of the Thirty-Third Season. The Society. 1853. p. 23-28 – List of Officers, Council and Members. Retrieved 20 February 2020.

Further reading

• Clark, Edwin Kitson (1924). The History of 100 years of life of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. Leeds: Jowett and Sowry.

External links

• Official website