Roger Boscovich and the Royal Society

Roger Boscovic was born in Dubrovnik in May 1711 and worked for much of his life in Rome. He visited the Royal Society while in London on a diplomatic mission in 1760, and was immediately elected a Fellow of the Society. He was entertained by the leading scientists of the day including the astronomer Nevil Maskelyne, and James Stuart, with whom he had worked on a cartographic expedition in the Papal States. Despite having only a short stay in London he continued to correspond with the Society, and to present his publications in physics and astronomy to the Society's library. The exhibition will feature rare and unique volumes from the library of the Royal Society, including a first edition of Newton's Optice, Boscovich's presentation copies of his own works, and a copy of William Thomson, Lord Kelvin's Baltimore Lectures from his own library with annotations and additions.

The exhibition will open to the public on Thursday 24 November and will run until Wednesday 15 February. Visits will be by guided tour only. Tour times will be advertised here shortly. Please contact Felicity Henderson (02074512597) with any enquiries.