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Franklins letter to the Royal Society
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Franklins letter to the Royal Society
n 1752 Peter Collinson FRS arranged for a letter from Franklin, describing his experiment on lightning, to be read to the Royal Society in London. Initially the Society did not think the letter was worth printing in their " Transactions". Describing the reaction of the Society Franklin wrote" the letter was laughed at by the Connoiseurs". Collinson then gave a number of Franklins letters to Edward Cave for publication in his " Gentlemans Magazine". However Cave decided to print them as a pamphlet which was widely acclaimed not only in the UK but in America and especially in France. As a result, the Royal Society reconsidered the matter. Dr. Watson drew up a summary account of the letters which was then published in the SocietyÔé¼Ôäós Transactions.Franklin was awarded the Copley Medal for 1753 and elected a Fellow in 1756, the first American to achieve this honor
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Media ID 6332233
© Sheila Terry
1752 18th Century Benjamin Franklin Experiment Franklin Kite Royal Society Edward Cave Gentleman Gentlemans Magazine Transactions
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This print captures a significant moment in scientific history - Benjamin Franklin's letter to the Royal Society. In 1752, Peter Collinson, a Fellow of the Royal Society, arranged for Franklin's letter describing his groundbreaking experiment on lightning to be read before the esteemed society in London. However, initially, the Society did not deem it worthy of printing in their prestigious "Transactions". Franklin himself humorously recounted that his letter was met with laughter from the "Connoisseurs" within the Society. Undeterred by this initial setback, Collinson took matters into his own hands and gave several of Franklin's letters to Edward Cave for publication in his renowned "Gentleman's Magazine". To everyone's astonishment and acclaim, Cave decided to publish them as a pamphlet. The impact was far-reaching; not only did these publications garner widespread recognition across Britain but also captivated readers in America and particularly France. The overwhelming response prompted the Royal Society to reconsider their stance on Franklin's work. Driven by this newfound appreciation, Dr. Watson compiled a summary account of Franklin's letters which were then published in the revered Transactions of the Royal Society. As an outcome of this remarkable turn of events, Benjamin Franklin was awarded the prestigious Copley Medal for 1753 and subsequently elected as a Fellow in 1756 - making him the first American ever bestowed with such an honor. This print serves as a testament to both scientific controversy and triumph while commemorating one man’s journey towards international recognition and respect within academic circles.
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