Virginia Gazette, 16 June 1774
In June of 1774, the Virginia Society for the Advancement of Useful Knowledge[1] met in Williamsburg to elect new officers and award a prize for a new invention. The meeting was reported in the Virginia Gazette newspapers, stating that John Page (1743-1808) had been chosen president of the society, and George Wythe chosen as vice-president.[2] Also mentioned as "corresponding members" of the society are Benjamin Franklin, and Benjamin Rush.
Contents
Article text, 16 June 1774
Page 2
☞ Yesterday, the Society for the Advancement of useful Knowledge met at the Capitol, when the Honourable John Page of Rosewell was chosen President, George Wythe, Esq; Vice President, Mr. James Madison, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the College of William and Mary, and the Reverend Mr. Robert Andrews of York, Secretaries, David Jameson, Esq; Treasurer, and Mr. James Madison, Curator.
A pecuniary Reward, and Medal, were voted to Mr. Holiday, for his Model of a very ingenious and useful Machine for threshing our Wheat.
Doctor Franklin, and Doctor Lettsom, of London, the Reverend Thomas Baldwin, and John Baldwin, Esq; of Chester, in England, Doctor Smith, Provost of the College, Doctor Morgan, Doctor Rush, and Mr. Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia, Edward Foy, Esq; of New York, Doctor Steward of Bladensburg, Maryland, and Doctor Smibert of Boston, were chosen corresponding members.
See also
References
- ↑ Also variously referred to as the "Society for the Investigation and Advancement of Useful Knowledge," the "Society for Propagating Useful Knowledge," or the "Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge."
- ↑ Virginia Gazette (Purdie and Dixon), June 14, 1774, 2.
Further reading
- Richard A. Overfield, "Science in the Virginia Gazette, 1736–1780," Emporia State Research Studies 16, no. 3 (1968): 5–53.
External links
- "A Field Spacious and Untrodden: The Virginian Society for the Promotion of Usefull Knowledge," The Colonial Williamsburg Journal (Autumn 2003).]]
