Royal Observatory
GREEN- WICH, the famous English observatory founded by Charles II. in 1675. The first observation was made Sept. 19, 1675. The Director of the Observatory is styled the Astronomer Royal, and is under the official control of the Admiralty, but receives his appointment directly from the Prime Minister, and holds office by warrant under the royal sign manual. Meridian observations of sun, moon, planets and stars constitute the fundamental work. Photographs of the sun are taken on every available day, and after being measured are carefully stored for reference. Magnetic and meteorological observations, made continuously, form an important branch of the works. The chronometers used in the English navy are purchased, and generally examined, at the Observatory.
Hourly and daily time-signals are sent out from the Observatory through the post-office telegraphs giving Greenwich time to all parts of the country.
ROYAL SOCIETY (LONDON), a society for prosecuting research in general and physico-mathematical science in particular, founded in 1660. Its first journal opened Nov. 28, 1660, and the members, in 1662, obtained a charter, and were incorporated as the Royal Society. The first number of the "Philosophical Transactions," recording the work of the society, appeared on March 6, 1665. After 1750 the annual volume took the place of occasional numbers. In 1709 a bequest from Sir Godfrey Copley led to the establishment of the Copley gold medal, and a donation from Count Rumford in 1796 resulted in the foundation of the Rumford gold and silver medals. Two more medals were established by George IV. in 1825. The Linnæan Society branched off from it in 1788, the Geological Society in 1807, and the Royal Astronomical Society in 1820. For a considerable time the number of the members stood at 600; latterly, however, only 15 members have been annually elected, so that the number of fellows will in a few years be reduced below 500.
Many of the most important scientific ROYER-COLLARD achievements and discoveries have been due to its enlightened methods. It deservedly enjoys an influential and semiofficial position as the scientific adviser of the British Government, and not only administers the $20,000 annually voted by Parliament for scientific purposes, but has given suggestions and advice which have borne valuable fruit, from the voyage of Captain Cook in the "Endeavor" in 1768 down to the present time. The roll of the Royal Society contains practically all the great scientific names of its country since its foundation. Among its presidents have been Lord-Chancellor Somers, Samuel Pepys, Sir Isaac Newton, Sir J. Banks , Sir Hans Sloane, and Sir Humphry Davy.
ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE, a society founded in England under the patronage of George IV., in 1823, and chartered in 1826. It awards gold medals.