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The Lunar Society was a discussion club, of a number of prominent
industrialists and scientists, who met regularly in the latter half of the 18th
century in Birmingham, England.
The society's name came from their practice of scheduling their meetings at the time of the full moon. Since there was no street lighting, the extra light made the journey home easier.
Venues included Matthew Boulton's home, Soho House, and Great Barr Hall.
The members of the Lunar Society were very influential in Britain in their day. Amongst those who attended meetings more or
less regularly were Matthew Boulton, Erasmus Darwin, Samuel Galton Junior, James Keir, William
Murdoch, Joseph Priestley, Josiah Wedgwood, James Watt and William Withering.
More peripheral characters and correspondents included Sir Richard
Arkwright, John Baskerville, Thomas Beddoes, Thomas Day, Richard Lovell
Edgeworth, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Anna
Seward, William Small, John Smeaton, Thomas Wedgwood, John Wilkinson, Joseph Wright, James Wyatt,
Samuel Wyatt.
Antoine Lavoisier frequently corresponded with various members
of the group, as did Benjamin Franklin, who also visited them in
Birmingham on several occasions.
Among memorials to the Society are the Moonstones, two statues of Watt and a statue of Boulton, Watt and Murdoch, by William Bloye, and the museum at Soho House, all in Birmingham.
Further reading
- The Lunar Men by Jenny Uglow (Faber & Faber)
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