ANON 1 - BRITISH ASSOCIATION
 

The British Association For The Advancement Of Science was founded in 1831 on the lines of a German Institution. William Vernon Harcourt and J F W Johnston were leading advocates of the association in competition with the Royal Society. The first meeting was held in York but annual meetings were held in different cities. In 1869 Exeter was chosen, possibly at the instigation of William Cotton who was the Local Treasurer.

Although a guide of sorts may have been printed for attendees only lists of participants and a copy of a specially produced map have been seen: the map has been loosely inserted into the map pocket of a copy of Murray’s Handbook to Travellers (1859)[1]. However it is highly probable that the map was issued to participants as part of a welcome pack. Various lists were distributed to participants and the map may well have been attached to one. The first List of Members of the British Association was printed in Exeter by William Pollard of 58 North Street and was Corrected to Tuesday Evening, August 17th 1869. The First Supplementary List was issued with those Registered to Thursday August 19th at 5 p.m. The Second Supplementary List was updated to Saturday, August 21st at 12 noon. In addition to these there may have been handouts issued by those giving speeches.[2] 

The whole proceedings were published the following year and would have been presented or sold to each participant who had attended Exeter meeting: Report Of The British Association For The Advancement Of Science Held At Exeter In 1869. This was published in 1870 by John Murray, London. It was part of an extremely important annual series of original research papers. Containing 800-1000 pp it included 100-120pp to the rear listing all the members of the association with their qualifications and addresses.

The 1860 Oxford Evolution Debate was held at one of the society’s meetings in which Thomas Henry Huxley and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce debated the origin of our species; in 1878 the association decided not to recommend building a prototype of Charles Babbage‘s analytical engine; and the society was parodied by Charles Dickens - The Mudfog Society for the Advancement of Everything was based on the association.

 


 

Size: 134 x 180 mm.   SCALE OF YARDS (600 = 48 mm).



 

BRITISH ASSOCIATION EXETER MEETING. 1869. Simple block plan with places shown by letters (the Society's meeting places) or numbers (local sights and important buildings) listed in a panel on the right-hand side below the title (Ea), and above the scale bar (Ee). The North point is (Ac).

From St. Davids (Bristol & Exeter Ry. Station) to the Quay and east to Barnfield. Shows both railway lines; South Devon Railway; North Devon Railway to Queen Street station (unnamed) and thence the South Western Railway (or) Exmouth Railway.

 

1. 1869    Loose map (see text above).   (DevA).


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NOTES:

[1] At the Devon Archives and Heritage Centre (sWES/1859/HAN). Illustration courtesy of DevA.

[2] The author has the three lists mentioned as well as a 6 page leaflet the Address to the Chemical Section of the British Association and this would have been held on August 19th.

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