Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of , vol. 150, part 2, 2017, pp. 232–245. ISSN 0035-9173/17/020232-14

Creative foundations. The Royal Society of New South Wales: 1867 and 2017

Ann Moyal Emeritus Fellowship, ANU, Canberra, Email: [email protected]

Abstract There have been two key foundations in the history of the Royal Society of New South Wales. The first at its creation as a Royal Society in 1867, shaped significantly by the Colonial savant, geologist the Rev. W. B. Clarke, assisted by a corps of pioneering scientists concerned to develop practical sci- entific knowledge in the colony of N.S.W. And the second, under the guidance of President Donald Hector 2012–2016 and his counsellors, fostering a vital “renaissance” in the Society’s affairs to bring the high expertise of contemporary scientific and transdisciplinary members to confront the complex socio-techno-economic problems of a challenging twenty-first century.

his country is so dead to all that natures) on a span of topics that embraced “Tconcerns the life of the mind”, the geology, meteorology, climate, mineralogy, scholarly newcomer the Rev. W. B. Clarke the natural sciences, earthquakes, volcanoes, wrote to his mother in in Septem- comets, storms, inland and maritime explo- ber 1839 shortly after his arrival in New ration and its discoveries which gave singular South Wales (Moyal, 2003, p. 10). But a impetus to the newspaper’s role as a media man with a future, he quickly took up the pioneer in the communication of science offer of the editor ofThe Herald, John (Organ, 1992). Stokes, to contribute to the paper on sci- With only three scientific institutions in ence, and with John Fairfax’s proprietorship mid-century New South Wales — the Royal of the renamed Sydney Morning Herald in Botanic Gardens, the Parramatta Observa- 1841, Clarke launched a series of twenty tory and the — the sci- unsigned articles entitled `Meteorology as entific community was small. The Australian applicable to Australia’ in January 1842 and Philosophical Society, formed in 1850 (as a followed it in July–December 1842 with a post-event of Governor Brisbane’s fleeting second unsigned series,`Notitiæ Australasi- Philosophical Society of Australasia of 1821), anæ’, in which he sought to bring local sci- was renamed the Philosophical Society of entific discoveries before the public and to New South Wales in 1855 and gained some call upon colonists “through the habit of vigour under the presidency (1856-61) of observation” to make useful contributions the scientifically-minded Governor-General to natural science. Thereafter across the of the Colonies, Sir . Yet next two decades Clarke became The Sydney by 1866, stirred by the establishment of the Morning Herald’s major contributor of arti- new universities of Sydney (1852) and Mel- cles, letters, scientific reports and editorials, bourne (1855), the growth of museums and (sometimes anonymous, or with cryptic sig- observatories, and the advent of a major geo-

232 Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales Moyal — Creative foundations. The Royal Society of New South Wales: 1867 and 2017 logical survey in gold-rich , a view and distilled through The Sydney Morning gained currency that the historical concept of Herald — Clarke had emerged as a leading a `Philosophical’ society no longer reflected savant, a prominent player in negotiating a community with diverse scientific interests science, and a household name. and an expanding government commitment He had become, in effect, what British to science. With the assistance of the Gov- historian of science, James Moore, defined in ernor, Sir John Young, the Royal Society of Britain’s scientific community, as the owner New South Wales gained Royal assent in of intellectual “scientific credit”, one who, 1866 and was formally established in 1867, offering support and advancement to others, the third society in Australia to acquire the carried “symbolic capital” (Moore, 1996). Royal title, following the Royal Society of As a researcher, Clarke had also developed Van Diemen’s Land in 1832 (renamed Royal strong connections outside the Colony as Society of Tasmania in 1911), and the Royal an honorary member of the New Zealand Society of Victoria in 1859. In this forward Society, a life Fellow of the Royal Geo- thrust, Clarke, a long-time councillor and graphical Society, a member of the Société Vice-President of the Philosophical Society, Géologique de France, and, strikingly, had was a prime mover. fostered and continued to foster a substan- By the end of the ’fifties William Bran- tial correspondence with intercolonial and white Clarke was the most strategically international scientists in the natural and placed scientist in the Colony. Arriving physical sciences. Combining many parts, from Britain to take up his profession as he was elected senior Vice-President of the an Anglican clergyman in Sydney in May new Royal Society of New South Wales and, 1839, he had received geological training at the age of 69, played a key part in the with Adam Sedgwick at Cambridge Uni- Society’s formative first seven years. versity, published papers on aspects of Brit- One hundred and eight men signed the ish and Continental geology, was a Fellow Membership List of the new Royal Society of the prestigious Geological Society of in 1867. Their collective company repre- London and arrived in the Colony as the first sented a wide community of men of differ- trained geologist to settle in Australia. While ing pursuits and ages who shared a sense he earned his way as a churchman, Clarke of buoyancy at the opportunities for fresh early began his pioneering geological excur- initiatives and knowledge in the Colony. sions, publishing papers in Britain and the Made up of senior civil servants from the Colonies and communicating new findings Colonial Departments of Lands, Works, to the Sydney press. Importantly, through Mining, Land Titles, Telegraph, Publishing, his service to Government on a variety of the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, committees on artesian water and gold and, the Colonial Architect, the Surveyor-Gen- notably, through his role as Geological Sur- eral, and professional scientists from Sydney veyor appointed by government in 1851–53 Observatory, the Botanic Gardens, the Aus- to conduct surveys of the mineral wealth of tralian Museum and the Mint, two professors New South Wales — excursions that yielded from Sydney University, they also included twenty detailed reports published by the independent astronomers, entomologists Legislative Council of New South Wales and natural scientists, an array of physi-

233 Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales Moyal — Creative foundations. The Royal Society of New South Wales: 1867 and 2017 cians and clergymen with scientific inter- mingled with our parent earth. All that ests, several MLC’s and MLA’s and two staff we have to trouble ourselves with, is the members from The Sydney Morning Herald. right interpretation and development of They hence included an association of play- these physical riches, so bountifully spread ers both involved professionally in aspects around and beneath us for our investiga- of scientific and technological progress in tion and use” (Clarke, 1867, p 26). New South Wales, together with a corps of It was relevant that in the decade when The independent participants with research pub- Origin of Species was in discussion in the Col- lications and overseas experience and a lively onies and Clarke himself was in correspond- interest in the natural sciences (Transactions, ence with , his conclusion 1867, 1, pp. xi–xiii)1. was open and germane. “We must strive to It was to this newly founded learned discern clearly, understand fully, and report society that W. B. Clarke gave the Inau- faithfully; to love truth in things physical as gural Address on 6 July 1867 as first Vice- in things moral; to adjure hasty theories and President, a position he would hold until his unsupported conjectures; where we are in death in 1878. Considering the concept of doubt not to be positive; to give our brother a “philosophical” society as no longer alone observer the same measure of credit we take appropriate to national ends, he offered a to ourselves; not striving for mastery, but broad and practical vision for the future: leaving time for the formation of the judg- “Let us perform our own proper work [he ment which will inevitably be given, whether said], not caring whether we ever arrive for or against us, by those who come after; at complete knowledge of the methods by contented if we are able to add but one grain which the Universe was formed and per- to that enduring pyramid which is now in fected. We have before us in this Colony a course of erection as the testimony of Nature vast region, much of which is still untrod- to the truth of Revelation.”2 den ground. We have, as it were, a new Within the Colony’s scientific activi- heaven for Astronomy and a new earth ties, astronomy was in the ascendant. Ever for Geology. We have climatical condi- since Governor Brisbane’s establishment of tions of the Atmosphere, which are not the Parramatta Observatory in 1821, the to be viewed by us merely as phenomena resulting publication of the first major star interesting to the Meteorologist. We have catalogue of the southern hemisphere, The facts to accumulate relating to Droughts Parramatta Catalogue of 7,385 Stars (1838), and Floods which have a deep financial had focused international attention on Aus- and social importance. We have a super- tralian astronomy and fostered its develop- ficial area which may engage the atten- ment. With the closure of the Parramatta tion of Surveyors, Agriculturalists, and Engineers for years to come. We have 2 Like many key scientists in the Australian Colonies unrevealed magazines of mineral wealth and in Britain and the United States, Clarke remained in which Chemists and Miners may find a `Separate Creationist’ all his days. Corresponding with Darwin in August 1861 on receipt of The Origin, employment for ages after we shall all have the first page of his letter of greeting is missing from the Darwin Correspondence held in Cambridge. The full letter relates to geological findings (Moyal, 2003, 1 See http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40522032 vol 1. pp 551-2) with the evolutionist.

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Observatory in 1848, work began in 1856 shared the Vice-Presidency of the Society on construction of the Sydney Observatory with Clarke and contributed several papers and the Rev. William Scott, a Cambridge on astronomy to the Transactions before his wrangler and lecturer in mathematics from unexpected death in 1870 (ADB, 5). The Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge, was astronomers were served by the expertise of appointed Government Astronomer. Scott another Society member, the scientific instru- oversaw the Observatory’s construction at ment maker, Angelo Tornaghi. Born in Milan, Flagstaff Hill, began meridian observations Tornaghi came to Australia in 1858 to super- on the position of certain stars, and with an vise the installation of instruments at the Equatorial telescope of a 7.25-inch aperture Flagstaff Observatory, and set up a scientific began observations of comets (ADB, 6). instrument, optical and clock-making busi- Both Scott and the brilliant locally born ness in Sydney, which became a major source astronomer, John Tebbutt, Jr., were early of expertise supplying instruments and build- members of the Royal Society. Exploring the ing and servicing telescopes for the Colony’s southern heavens with an ordinary ship’s tel- professional and amateur astronomers. escope and sextant from his home at Wind- The fields of biology and zoology were sor, New South Wales, 27-year-old Tebbutt also richly represented in the Society. Dr had the grand experience of discovering the George Bennett, a practising zoologist in “great comet” of 1861 and enlarging the rep- the Colony since 1836, had trained as a utation of Australia’s astronomical science. medical doctor at the Hunterian School of Tebbutt built his own modest observatory Medicine, London, where he began a life- at Windsor, independently maintaining a long friendship with fellow student Richard remarkable series of accurate descriptions on Owen. His research centred on the kangaroo comets, occultations on stars by the moon, and other marsupials, and the monotremes; eclipses, transits of Jupiter’s satellites, variable he published Wanderings of a Naturalist in stars and double stars, and the positions of New South Wales, Batavia, Singapore and minor planets, all of which were invaluable China (1834) and Gatherings of a Naturalist to world astronomers. He proved a prolific in Australasia (1860). Settled in Sydney as sharer of his scientific knowledge, report- a physician, Bennett served as Secretary of ing his cometary observations in 61 research the Colonial Museum 1836–42. His long papers and in the press, publishing Mete- life of field research exemplified the vital orological Observations made at the Private link forged between science at the periphery Observatory of John Tebbutt Jnr., and produc- and the metropolis in his sustained contri- ing some 300 papers in scientific journals. bution of biological specimens of marsupi- Tebbutt won the title of Australia’s greatest als, monotremes, and the fossil remains of nineteenth-century astronomer (Bhathal, extinct marsupials to Professor Owen, the 1993; Moyal, 1976, pp 133–5). towering leader of British comparative anat- Drawing on experience at the Royal omy and palaeontology (Newland, 1991; Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, and as Moyal, 1976, p 896). lecturer in mathematics at Kings College, By contrast at the Australian Museum, London, George R. Smalley succeeded Scott the German zoologist, Johann Gerard Krefft, as Government Astronomer in 1864. He marked an independent-minded researcher

235 Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales Moyal — Creative foundations. The Royal Society of New South Wales: 1867 and 2017 and author who sought local authority for destined to play an active role as Honorary his Australian work. Emigrating to the Vic- Secretary of the Royal Society. There, too, torian goldfields in 1857, he became Curator was Thomas Mort, businessman and entre- at the Australian Museum in 1864. A Fellow preneur, who from 1866 financed experi- of the Linnaean Society of London and a ments and ideas in refrigeration machinery correspondent of the Zoological Society of (ADB, 5). London, Krefft was the author of Snakes in Civil servant members of the Society Australia (1869) and Mammals of Australia exhibited a range of talents. The Colonial (1871) and had the distinction of being Architect, James Barnet, a man of striking an early and articulate Darwinian in Aus- creative achievement across his long career, tralia (ADB, 5; Moyal, 1976, pp 822–3). 1865–90, built courthouses, police stations, Charles Moore, trained at Kew Gardens post offices including Sydney’s distinguished and appointed as Colonial Botanist in New General Post Office, the Customs House, South Wales, developed a scientific herbar- the Public Library, the Medical School of the ium at Sydney and as Director of the Botanic , and finally Sydney’s Gardens became an active member of the famous International Exhibition building, Royal Society’s Council (ADB, 5). the Garden Palace Building, made of glass The Society’s membership in applied sci- and iron, to showcase the Colony’s resources ence evolved through staff members from and activities. His buildings, it was said, the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint. Its “took the public taste”. Of eclectic interests, first Deputy Master, Captain Edward Ward, Barnet published A Monograph of Australian appointed in 1854, became an influential Land Shells (1868) (ADB, 3). figure in Sydney, a member of the Philo- E. C. Cracknell, Superintendent of Tel- sophical Society of New South Wales, and egraphs in New South Wales, brought the a Corresponding member of the Royal Soci- transformative new technology of the tel- ety when he moved in 1869 to establish the egraph to the Colony. Emigrating to Aus- Branch of the Royal Mint.3 Legal tralia from Britain as technical assistant to tender was at last established in the Colonies the newly appointed Astronomer of South in 1857. Australia, Charles Todd, in 1855 Cracknell Robert Hunt, Deputy Master from 1865, moved to Sydney as assistant superintend- was a Society member, while Dr Adolph ent in 1858. The Colony was soon ringed (Carl) Leibius, trained in chemistry in Ger- about with electric telegraph lines — that many at the University of Heidelberg and in `Most Wonderful Invention’ — while, as analytical and assaying chemistry in London, Superintendent from 1861, Cracknell built joined the Mint in 1859 and, a contributor connections with the stretching intercolonial to the Transactions with his colleague and telegraph networks and in January 1876 offi- Fellow member Francis Miller, was later ciated at the joining of the cable connection from Botany Bay to New Zealand to link the 3 His creative first Assayer, and member of the former seven “Australasian Colonies”. Society, was the remarkable young William Stanley The medical contingent in the Society, Jevons, whose rich, if reclusive, intellectual period spent in Sydney from 1854–59­ led to his distinguished numbering some eight doctors including career as an economist (both theoretical and applied) Dr Bennett and the respected Rev. Dr John and social theorist in England (Marks, 2016).

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Dunmore Lang, held other engaged partici- first academic science appointment as Profes- pants. Dr James Cox FRCS, pastoralist and sor of Chemistry and Experimental Physics at merino breeder (an editor of The Stud Book Sydney in 1852, together with the first Pro- of New South Wales), founded the local Lin- fessor of Mathematics, Morris Birkbeck Pell, nean Society, was elected a Fellow of the Lin- 1852–76. Smith’s research interests were in nean Society of London, and was a dedicated water analysis and educational policy and he conchologist, publishing several editions of served on many commissions. Pell’s teaching that popular colonial topic, Monograph on in Mathematics underwrote its teaching as a Australian Land Shells (1858) (ADB, 3). Dr compulsory subject in the Bachelor of Arts John Le Gay Brereton, poet and prose writer, degree, and its impact proved crucial. Henry was also numbered among the members Chamberlain Russell, born and educated in while Charles Nathan, trained at Westmin- Maitland, New South Wales, graduated in ster Hospital School of Medicine, founded physics and chemistry with a BA degree in the New South Wales Branch of the British 1858 and was at once appointed “computer” Medical Association, was a member of the at the Sydney Observatory, rising to Acting N.S.W. Medical Board, a founding member Director 1862–4, and Government Astrono- of the University Senate, and was the doctor mer on Smalley’s death in 1870. As such, he called upon when the Duke of Edinburgh was the first graduate from Sydney University was wounded in an assassination attempt to rise to eminence and influence in Colonial in March 1868 (ADB, 5). Edward Bedford science. Russell’s work in astronomy, meteor- FRCS, surgeon, politician and public servant ology and geophysical science was far-reach- during an eminent medical career in Hobart, ing. Equipping a huge number of meteoro- emigrated to Sydney in 1863 where he was logical stations in New South Wales with his appointed medical adviser to the New South privately designed self-recording instruments, Wales government. He joined the Society in he based his pioneering papers on Australian 1864 and contributed several papers to the weather and the cyclic behaviour of climate Transactions while also serving from 1867–74 on this accumulated mass of evidence. He as Honorary Treasurer. (ADB, 3, obituary; also published the first Australian Weather Clarke, 1876, p 11). Map in The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 Feb- Most important to the character of the ruary 18774. In astronomy, Russell gained new Society, however, was the influence of international prominence in organizing Aus- the University. From the beginning, Sydney tralia’s observations of the transit of Venus in University took its cue from London Uni- December 1874 and in his pioneering stellar versity, with its strong emphasis on scientific and lunar photography of the Milky Way chairs, planning four in mathematics; anat- and Magellanic Clouds and large stars. A omy, physiology and medicine; chemistry formidable contributor to the Royal Society, and experimental physics; and natural history. (he published some 69 papers in its Journal To the vocal disappointment of T. H. Huxley, and numerous works elsewhere), he followed an eager candidate for the proposed but dis- Clarke’s steps in becoming a three-time Vice- carded natural history chair (Moyal, 1976, President of the Society. He was elected a pp. 98–100). John Smith M.D., lecturer in chemistry from Aberdeen University, was the 4 See http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/ 13389140/1438919

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Fellow of the Royal Society of London in judged that in the long history of establish- 1881 (ADB, 6; Bhathal, 1991; Moyal, 1976, ing societies for the advancement of science, pp 832–3). art and literature, “In a young community, a In December 1866, Dr A. M. Thomson, society such as this is the only one likely to be one of London University’s first doctors of appreciated in promoting the advancement science, with experience at the Royal School of art and science with an energy adequate of Mines, arrived at Sydney University as to meet the requirement”. “Great things”, Reader in Geology, marking an important he predicted “grow out of small beginnings”, extension in science. Working also as assist- and he hoped that women, whom he con- ant in chemistry to Professor Smith, he sidered “neither uninterested nor unappre- published a number of pioneering geologi- ciative of science” and “not incapable of cal papers and a Guide to mineral explorers understanding it”, would not only “grace in distinguishing minerals, ores and gems with their presence at the Conversationes (1869) and was posted as the first Professor of this society, but sometimes attend the of Geology at the University in 1870 where ordinary meetings” (Smalley, 1868, p. 8). It he taught “very up-to-date- courses”, gave was a view that took root in the establish- popular public lectures and opened science ment of the periodic social public assemblies teaching to senior students at Sydney Gram- that were held by the Society from 1873 and mar School. Thomson was rapidly recruited greatly enlarged its audiences. to the Royal Society where he became a Volume 1 of the of Society’s Transactions member of Council in 1870 and a key con- of their first year of meetings was published tributor. His brilliant young life, however, in 18685. With papers from Clarke, Smalley, was cut short as an outcome of his work Krefft, and Pell, it covered topics as wide with Gerard Krefft in the excavation and as ‘On the Auriferous and other Metallifer- examination of fossils of extinct marsupi- ous Districts of Northern ’, ‘The als in 1869 in the damp Wellington Caves Mutual Influence of Clock Pendulums’, ‘The (Moyal, 1976, pp. 206–211). He died in Vertebrates of Tasmania, recent specimens 1871, a significant loss to the Colony, the and fossils’, and ‘On the Rates and Expecta- Society, and to Clarke, for whom, through tion of Life in New South Wales compared their close geological collaboration, he had with England and other Countries’. Vol- become a “scientific son.” umes 2 and 3 of the Transactions, present- Such, in sum, was the diverse company ing papers of 1868-9, extended the range6. of the Royal Society when it gathered its There was Dr Alfred Roberts `On the Hos- members together to begin a new creative pital Requirements of Sydney’, Clarke `On epoch in its affairs. the Causes and Phenomena of Earthquakes, It fell to George Smalley, the second Vice- especially in relation to the shocks felt in President, to indicate the progress made in New South Wales, and in other provinces of the Society in its first year in his Opening Address to members on 3 June 1868. With 5 See https://royalsoc.org.au/council-members-section/ the new name, he declared “we are exhibiting 73-jprocrsnsw-vol-1 signs of fresh vitality”. Smalley pressed the 6 See https://royalsoc.org.au/council-members-section/ value of “meeting in a social manner” and 74-jprocrsnsw-vol-2 and https://royalsoc.org.au/ council-members-section/75-jprocrsnsw-vol-3

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Australasia’, Smalley’s `On the value of Earth In addition to his own work, Clarke Temperatures’, Russell’s `Tables for Calculat- used his “scientific credit” to influence the ing the Humidity of the Air’, Smith `On the Queensland Government to appoint two Water Supply of Sydney’ and ‘On the results geological surveyors, dropped from the of the Chemical Examination of Waters for disbanded Geological Survey under Alfred the Sydney Water Commission’, Dunmore Selwyn in Victoria, to new survey posts in Lang ‘On the Origin and Migration of Queensland — Christopher Aplin in South- the Polynesian Nation’, Edward Cracknell ern Queensland and Richard Daintree in on the Electric Telegraph, mathematician the North — where their pointers to gold Martin Gardiner’s contributions on ‘New proved invaluable in stimulating the gold Theorems in the Geometry of Three Dimen- rushes in that Colony. Their geological find- sions’ and ‘Improving Solutions of Problems ings along with that of scattered others found in Trigonometrical Surveying’, F. B. Miller their way as major contributions to knowl- ‘On Refining Gold by Means of Chlorine edge through the Anniversary Addresses Gas’, A. Leibius ‘On a New Apparatus for which Clarke, as Vice-President, delivered Reducing Chlorine of Silver’ and Alexander to the Society and in the many papers he Thomson’s ‘Notes on the Geology of the wrote for the Transactions. Drawing on a country around Goulburn’. Investigative substantial survey of new information on advances had been made and serious scien- diamonds and other minerals, he reported tific information transferred. By 1869 forty in his Vice-Presidential Address of 22 May new members had joined the Society. 1872, “We have now evidence that Eastern W. B. Clarke’s part in the expansion of Australia is what I have often stated, one vast the Society’s new mode drew strongly on field of mineral wealth. From north to south, his reputation and continuing scholarly and from the coast to the 41st meridian, the work. Touching 70, his nets never dried; he western boundary of New South Wales, we remained the senior geologist in the country. know that coal, gold, copper, tin, and, in Retiring from his large parish of St. Tho- many places, lead, and other minerals of less mas’s Church, North Sydney in 1870, he local importance, are found in abundance” became deeply engaged in bringing his long (Clarke, 1872, p 38). researches and collections on the stratigra- Clarke was also a great encourager of phy of the country to fruitful conclusion younger members in other disciplines. H. in a lengthy correspondence with the dis- C. Russell wrote to him calling on his exper- tinguished Belgian palaeontologist Laurent tise on weather, climate, floods, storms, de Koninck, Professor of Palaeontology and tides and coastal elevation and the vary- Chemistry at Liége University, conducted ing appearance and disappearance of Lake entirely in French.7 George. Informing letters also came to him from Gerard Krefft, to whom he gave strong 7 From 1864-77 de Koninck undertook the classifi- support during the 1870’s, while the warm cation of Clarke’s Devonian, Silurian and Carbon- collegiate correspondence and exchange iferous specimens, lists of which Clarke published as an Appendix to the 4th edition of his Remarks on the Sedimentary Formations of New South Wales, 1878. some 266 of Clarke’s fossil specimen was finally pub- De Koninck’s Recherches sur les fossiles palaéozoic de la lished in English by T. W. E. David, Mrs David and Nouvelle-Galles du Sud (Australie) 1876-77 describing W. S. Dun in 1898 (Moyal, 1976, p 668).

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Clarke enjoyed with Alexander Thomson journalism, offered a strong and continuing underscored his role as mentor, savant and image of public science. As Clarke early told collaborative forward thinker. Clarke was a Richard Owen, the newspaper “was the sci- polymath in mid- to late-nineteenth century entific journal of the Colony” (Moyal, 1976, Australian science and his careful retention p 10). Overall there was Societal growth: 116 of a vast colonial, intercolonial and interna- members were reported in 1873­–4, 155 in tional correspondence conducted from 1840 1875, and 170 in 1876 (Clarke, 1875, p 6). to 1876 illuminated his unique part.8 As membership grew, other proposals envis- For the first seven years of the Royal Soci- aged a division into Subsections that would ety, Clarke emerged as the thread on which encourage greater concourse among special- many matters hung. As his sometime fellow ists in different disciplinary arena. “When Vice-President, Professor John Smith, saw these separate parts are brought together,” it, “he was a centre around which all facts said Clarke, “all of them assist towards com- and discoveries were sure to group them- pletion of the whole object” (Clarke, 1876, selves” (Moyal, 1976, p. 57). Challenges p 7). Enunciated by Clarke, these ideas were abundant; membership fees proved were swiftly taken up and acted upon by tardy; there was the need over several years the young Archibald Liversidge, who arrived for a permanent home for the Society and as Reader in Geology and Assistant in the for a growing Library. There was also need Laboratory at the University in 1872 in suc- for a wider than local emphasis, and Clarke, cession to Thomson, and joined the Society’s as an Honorary member himself of several Council in 1873. As Liversidge’s biographer overseas societies, early advocated extending recounts, “Clarke had set the Society on its reciprocity to other societies and offering course of reconstruction in July 1867, he Honorary Fellowships to reputed scientists had inspired Russell and Liversidge to action in the Colonies and overseas. Centrally, a in May 1875; now it was Clarke who carried government stipend was urgently required the tablets from the mountain” (MacLeod, p to support and enhance the publications 162). Acting in concert as Honorary Secre- of a society which, in Clarke’s words, “was taries, Liversidge and Russell shouldered the performing a very important service to the Society’s practical needs of finally securing community” (Clarke, 1876, pp 3-4). some government funding to create a perma- In one arena, the press, the early Royal nent premise, editing and adding scientific Society was singularly well supported. Pro- illustration to the Transactions and Journal, prietor John Fairfax was a member of the encouraging public science through well Society from its foundation and the prac- attended `conversationes’, and steering the tice of The Sydney Morning Herald in giving formation of Sections. prominent place in its front pages to the Clarke gave his final Anniversary Address Annual Addresses and extracts of papers to the Society on 1 May 1876. As the Soci- from the Society’s meetings the following ety’s shaper, he had stood essentially on the day, in addition to its sustained scientific cusp between amateur and independent engagement with science and its increasing

8 W. B. Clarke was one of the few scientists in the professionalization. With gathering pleas- Colony who preserved his personal correspondence ure, he saw that there had been consider- for posterity.

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able progress in the Society and that the first enthusiastically, “fully acknowledges your two elected Honorary Fellows, James Hector claims, and both Hooker and Huxley were from New Zealand and Professor de Koninck warm in your favour, so that you came in, from , would recognise that they it may be said, triumphantly” (Moyal, 1976, had become members of a society that was pp 56, 65). Jevons, well known to Clarke both “active and vigorous”. It was a society when serving as assayer at the Mint, sent “which had already contributed much useful words to praise him. “You have founded the information”. It was not Promethean science. geology of a new continent,” he graciously His central theme remained a constant. “Our wrote early in November 1876, “and I might true position”, he reminded his audience, “is also say founded a Royal Society of your own” that of pioneers, sowers, foundation layers; (Moyal, 1976, p 1147). and in that respect we have assuredly an It fell to H. C. Russell as a new Vice-Pres- honourable occupation… As such I have ident in May 1877 to sum up the progress aspired to take a part … sometimes scatter- achieved by the Society since its foundation. ing a seed for thought here and there — and “Allow me to congratulate you upon our sometimes adding a pebble to what hereaf- flourishing condition,” he declared. “With ter will, I hope, see itself surmounted by a 132 members added to our number during superstructure of enduring reputation, when the year, seven working sections, 1000 books you and I will have long passed beyond the added to our library, and friendly relations heats of controversy... Let us do what we can established with no less than 107 kindred to serve honestly our day and generation” societies scattered over all parts of the world” (Clarke, 1876, pp 32-3). and “a fair prospect of help from a liberal The Council viewed his contribution in government to carry out our purposes … we larger terms and in 1875 commissioned have good reason to congratulate ourselves” Giulio Anivitti, an Italian artist recently (Russell, 1877, pp 1­–2). appointed instructor in painting and draw- Clarke, still actively engaged with his geo- ing at the new Art Training School in Sydney, logical affairs, died on 16 June 1878. The to paint Clarke’s portrait. Decked in a cas- Clarke Medal awarded for meritorious con- sock with a foreground of a globe and a tributions to the natural sciences, (defined substantial book, Clarke hoped that his subsequently in geology, biology and zoology portrait “might look down upon a flourish- presented in alternate years) was dated from ing Association of men”. A greater recog- 1878. It marked the first scientific Medal nition, however, was to come. On 1 June awarded in Australia. An enduring legacy 1786 the Rev. W. B. Clarke, after a long and from the Society’s foundation, a hundred fertile scientific life, was elected Fellow of the and thirty-eight Clarke Medals have been Royal Society of London, his nomination awarded to date to distinguished leaders in proposed by four notable Fellows, Charles their fields.9 Darwin, William Stanley Jevons, Robert Lowe (former N.S.W. lawyer and politician and from 1868-73 Gladstone’s Chancel- 9 Attuned to his ‘Association of men’, Clarke would lor of the Exchequer), and James Hector. doubtless be surprised, yet perhaps gladly, that four “The Council,” wrote the Society’s Secretary Clarke Medals have been won by women in geology, and six in the botanical and biological sciences.

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2017 that the Society could play a special role in One hundred and fifty years have elapsed bringing much greater insights into previ- since the founding of the Royal Society of ously unassailable problems. The Royal Soci- New South Wales, which recent president, ety, he argued, “is uniquely placed to provide Dr Donald Hector, has claimed as “the lead- leadership in this type of complex analysis”. ing learned institution of its type in Australia At a first level, the Society can provide “a and in the Southern Hemisphere.” For well forum where like-minded people can gather over a century [he suggests], it was the lead- and understand what is happening in other ing learned institution in N.S.W. and, argu- disciplines” (Hector, 2014, pp 1–2).­ He also ably, in Australia.” (Hector, 2014, p 1). Func- underlined, that the “wisdom of the found- tioning across decades Societies such as this ers in defining such a broad remit of human have all experienced varied epochs of progress, knowledge — science, art, literature and zenith, and change (Branagan, 1972). Cur- philosophy — was truly prescient”. But the rently, however, Dr Hector as President from current environment called for major change. 2012–16, has become the torch bearer in a Solutions, he advised, will not be found in movement to effect a “renaissance” in the science and technology alone. For impact, Royal Society to meet a new and increasingly “we need more writers, architects, sociologists, complex environment for science and its musicians and historians” (Hector, 2016, p community and “to re-establish the Society 15). Only then will we be able to engage as a leader in the intellectual life of N.S.W. with the community: “we can harness both and of the country” (Hector, 2016, p 5). intuitive and rational thought to bring great Hector’s motive, and that of his Council, creativity”, he said. It marked a clarion call. springs from the perception that the Soci- By 2012 the Council had already stirred a ety’s intellectual contribution has suffered sense of outreach and collective action. The a dilution of influence over recent decades Society was engaged in a range of awards and arising from factors that include the advent special named lectures (the Dirac Lecture of the four learned academies, increasing in the physical sciences is one). In Febru- specialization in the scientific disciplines and ary 2013 the Society held its first annual in their publications, and a diminishment Four Societies Forum with the Nuclear of communication across the disciplines. Engineering Panel of the Sydney Branch of Moreover, while in its founding days, the the Institution of Engineers, Australia, and Society of 1867 had before it “a new heaven the Australian Institute of Energy. In a key for Astronomy and a new earth for geol- Council initiative, several highly eminent ogy”, in the 21st century it has come to face members of the science community already a force of complex socio-techno-economic linked to the Society were elevated as `Dis- problems that are transdisciplinary, national tinguished Fellows’: Nobel Laureates, Pro- and global in their crucial challenge. fessors Peter Doherty and Brian Schmidt, Is there an answer? Focusing on mankind’s Sydney-born, former UK Chief Scientist, “remarkable capacity for intellectualizing Lord May, Emeritus Professors Jill Trewhella problems and solving them in the abstract” and Eugenie Lumbers, Professor Michael (Hector, 2016, p 6), Hector early put the case Archer, and the Hon. Barry Jones, unique as an elected Fellow of all four learned Societies

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(Hector, 2014, p 2). In December 2013, a on personal historical background. Extend- further Council decision was taken to extend ing new membership has brought needed the knowledge base of the Society through finances to the Society while its core goal of the election as special members of a number “renaissance” is expressed in its wide intel- of highly accomplished leaders across fields lectual interaction, consultation, multidis- of knowledge drawn from the professori- ciplinary narratives, and in the stimulus of ate of the universities in the State of New personal interconnections. Embracing com- South Wales. The Awards Advisory Panel, munity, the Society’s Annual Dinners gather composed of the Deans of Science and the participants in a linked reflection of the ‘con- Deans of Engineering, chaired by Professor versationes’. Mary O’Kane, Chief Scientist and Engineer Special invited lectures throw critical light of New South Wales, selected some twenty- on key often “wicked” problems. Speaking at one new members — the “FRSN” — for the Awards Dinner on 7 May 2014, savant formal election in May 2014. and one-time politician, Barry Jones con- Other ventures flourished. The first Forum tended that “the quality of public debate of the Society with the four learned Acade- on scientific issues had been trivialised, mies was held at Government House, Sydney, even infantilised”. “Despite Australia’s large in September 2015 on ‘The Future of Work’10. number of graduates (more than 4 million),” Introduced by the Governor, General David he said, “our 38 universities and intellectual Hurley, it brought a broad range of academics class generally have very limited political lev- and business leaders to bear on one of the big erage and appear reluctant to offend govern- national and social issues, “a futuristic look at ment or business by telling them what they the technological, social and cultural change do not want to hear… In a democratic soci- expected over the next 30 years” (RSNSW ety such as Australia, evidence is challenged Annual Report 2014) expressing in the Gov- by opinion and by vested and self-interest. ernor’s words “the Royal Society’s defining Australia has no dedicated Minster for Sci- purpose of rigour in challenging received ence with direct ownership/involvement in opinion and dominant authority through its promoting scientific disciplines.” In an era motto, omnia quærite, question everything”. of super-specialisation, he suggests “many A second Joint Forum of the Society and the scientists are reluctant to engage in debate, four Academies, held at Government House even where their discipline has significant in 2016, titled ‘Society as a Complex System: intersectoral connections” (Jones, 2014). Implications for Science, Practice and Policy’, A widely disseminated lecture by Dis- spanned a wide scientific and political spec- tinguished Fellow, Professor Brian Schmidt, trum and brought diverse minds to bear. The on ‘Evidence and Expertise in a post-truth papers from both Forums are published in world,’ invites us to inspect the tenuousness the Society’s Journal & Proceedings. This in- of our human future. He sees “a post-truth house resource has also been reinvigorated world” itself as a threat to our survival and to include key invited lectures and articles one that, unless dealt with quickly, threat- solicited for special issues, and others based ens us severely. Our planet, he reminds us, emerged 3.7 billion years ago “a small grain of 10 See https://royalsoc.org.au/council-members- sand” in the universe, but a grain we need to section/240-jprocrsnsw-vol-148-2

243 Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales Moyal — Creative foundations. The Royal Society of New South Wales: 1867 and 2017 preserve. There are 7.4 billion people now on In a richly engaged period for the Royal Planet Earth, and an increase of one hundred Society of New South Wales, large and million every year. Using energy, water, land unpredictable questions lie ahead. Martin and pollution we have a difficult challenge Rees (2010, p. 485) offers a fitting frame on our hands: that “we, humanity, have to for us all in his ‘Conclusion: Looking Fifty fit on Earth,” as Schmidt says. In this, “evi- Years Ahead’ in Bryson’s Seeing Further. dence and expertise” are critical. Numerate, “Wise choices will require the idealistic and deeply expert in the history of the universe, effective efforts of natural scientists, envi- Schmidt contends that “we will be a bunch ronmentalists, social scientists and human- of rabbits around a waterhole” if we take ists — aided by the insights that twenty-first wrong or inconsequential action. “It is only century science will surely bring.” by being human,” he maintains, and, by using From 1867 to 2017 such recommenda- decisions to share Planet Earth in learning to tions have the ring of truth. reduce our collective population and distrib- Acknowledgments ute the planet’s finite resources, “that we will I acknowledge with thanks assistance from have a path that will enable us to save our- Dr Donald Hector, Professor Mary O’Kane, selves”. (Schmidt, 2017). Or as Bill Bryson and Professor Robert Marks. (2010) writes more simply in Seeing Further: The Story of Science and the Royal Society, “If we References have an earth worth living on a hundred years ADB, Australian Dictionary of Biography, from now, the Royal Society [of London] will Melbourne University Press, 1966–1976, be one of the organizations our grandchildren volumes 1–6. http://adb.anu.edu.au Bhathal, Ragbir. (1991), H. C. Russell: 19th will wish to thank” (p 13). century astronomer, meteorologist and On a smaller canvas in its transformative organizer of Australian science, Journal processes, the Royal Society of New South & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Wales has much to share with, and learn from, South Wales, 124, pp 1–18. http://www. this ancient Society. With its seven journals, biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46155104 Bhathal, Ragbir (1993), Australian Astronomer, its endless stream of papers, its communi- John Tebbutt: the life and world of the man on cation through lectures, its transdisciplinary the $100 note, Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, principles, its manifold committees, its many N.S.W. awards and prizes, its contribution to chang- Branagan, David (1972), Words, action, ing legislation, it exemplifies many concepts people: 150 years of the scientific societies and trends that the N.S.W. Society endorses. in Australia, Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 104, pp Articulate for many years in the climate change 123–141. http://royalsoc.org.au/images/pdf/ debate, work-shopping and despatching a journal/104_branagan.pdf steady flow of communications on policy to Bryson, Bill (ed.) (2010), Seeing Further: The government and the media, it also provides Story of Science and the Royal Society, Harper public information to the lay reader on energy Press, London. Clarke, W. B. (1867), Inaugural address to the policy and global warming. By repute, the Royal Society, delivered at its first meeting, Royal Society of London provides “a vibrant 9th July, 1867, Transactions of the Royal Society showcase of science”. It also acts as “the con- of New South Wales, 1, pp 1–27. http://www. science of a nation” (Bryson, p. 13). biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40522032

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Clarke, W. B. (1872), Anniversary address, 22 Moyal, Ann, (ed.) (2003), The Web of Science. May 1872, Transactions of the Royal Society The Scientific Correspondence of the Rev. W. B. of New South Wales, 6, pp 1–66. http://www. Clarke, Australia’s Pioneer Geologist, 2 volumes, biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40536878 Australian Scholarly Publishing, Melbourne. Clarke, W. B. (1875), Anniversary address, Mozley Moyal, Ann (ed.) (1976), Scientists in 12 May 1875, Transactions & Proceedings of Nineteenth Century Australia. A Documentary the Royal Society of New South Wales, 9, pp History, Collins, Sydney. 1–56. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Newland, Elizabeth A. (1991), Dr George page/41593456 Bennett and Sir Richard Owen. A case Clarke, W. B. (1876), Anniversary address, study of the colonization of early Australian 17 May 1876, Journal & Proceedings of the science, in R. W. Home & S. G. Kohlsted Royal Society of New South Wales, 10, pp (eds.), International Science and National 1–34. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Scientific Identity: Australia between Britain page/36338350 and America, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Hector, Donald (2014), President’s address, Boston, U.S.A., pp 55–74. Annual dinner, 7 May 2014. Typescript. Organ, Michael (1992), W. B. Clarke as Hector, Donald, (2016), Presidential address, scientific journalist, Historical Records of Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society Australian Science, 9, 1, pp 1­–16. of New South Wales, 149, pp 5–16. https:// Rees, Martin (2010), Conclusion, Looking royalsoc.org.au/images/pdf/journal/149- Fifty Years Ahead, in Bryson, op. cit. Hector-Presidential-Address-20170131.pdf Royal Society of New South Wales, Annual Jones, Barry O., (2014), Evidence, opinion Report of Council, 31 December 2013. and interest — the attack on scientific Royal Society of New South Wales, Annual method, Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Report of Council, 31 December 2014. Society of New South Wales, 147, pp 2–11. Russell, H. C. (1877), Anniversary address, http://royalsoc.org.au/images/pdf/journal/J_ Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Proc_RSNSW_Vol_147_1_Jones.pdf New South Wales, 11, pp 1–20. http://www. Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40983781 New South Wales, 1878, 12, pp 177–8. http:// Schmidt, Brian (2017), Evidence and expertise www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41415703 in a post-truth world, 18th Annual Manning MacLeod, Roy, (2009), Archibald Liversidge, Clark Lecture, 3 March. http://www.abc.net. FRS, Imperial Science under the Southern au/radionational/programs/bigideas/fuzzy- Cross, Royal Society of New South Wales and thinking-wont-save-the-planet/8458478 University of Sydney Press, Sydney Smalley, George R. (1868), Opening Marks, Robert E. (2016), William Stanley address, Transactions of the Royal Society of Jevons. Fellow of the Philosophical Society New South Wales, 2, pp 1–12. http://www. of New South Wales, 1856-1859, Journal & biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40521750 Proceeding of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 149, pp 59–64. https://royalsoc.org. Dr Ann Moyal, historian of Australian sci- au/images/pdf/journal/149-Marks---william- stanley-20170131.pdf ence and technology, is the recipient of the Moore, James (1996), Green Gold: the riches Royal Society’s Inaugural Medal for the His- of Baron von Mueller, Historical Records of tory and Philosophy of Science, 2015. Australian Science, 11, 3, pp 371–88.

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