Chronology of events: Royal Society

For some events, the year is certain but the month and day are not. Example: We know only the year for the collections of Leeuwenhoek's letters published in Dutch during his lifetime.

For other events, the season or month are certain but the day is not. Example: Leeuwenhoek mentions that someone visited him "last month".

On the other hand, many events did indeed happen on the first day of a month. Example: public appointments to Delft's city offices took effect on January 1 of each year. Thus:

  • A date of January 1 in a given year may indicate that the year is certain but the month and day are not.
  • A date of 1 in a given month may indicate that the year and month are certain but the day is not.

Unless otherwise indicated, for events in England, the date given is Old Style, 10 days behind the Dutch Republic's New Style until 1700 and then 11 days behind.

May 25, 1686 Edmond Halley wrote Letter L-176 to Leeuwenhoek about a gift from the Royal Society and requesting some portraits
May 29, 1686 The Royal Society decided to send a gift to Leeuwenhoek, De Historia Piscium by Francis Willughby
June 5, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-173 about bone and wood
June 26, 1686 The Royal Society officers declared their satisfaction with the election of Edmond Halley
July 10, 1686 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-177 about how the leaves, root, and stem are wrapped up with the seeds
July 17, 1686 The Royal Society ordered that Letter L-178 about the texture of oakwood be translated
April 16, 1687 The Royal Society ordered that Letter L-186 about teeth be translated
April 23, 1687 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-186 about the structure of teeth
May 7, 1687 The Royal Society read the latter part of Letter L-186 about the teeth of various animals
May 14, 1687 The Royal Society read and discussed part of Letter L-187 about embryo plants in seeds
June 4, 1687 The Royal Society read and discussed part of Letter L-187 about coffee
June 18, 1687 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-175 about gall nuts, over a year after receiving it
November 26, 1687 The Royal Society read part of Letter L-192 about the generation of ants
December 3, 1687 The Royal Society read and discussed the latter part of Letter L-192 about the generation of ants
December 11, 1687 The Royal Society ordered that Letter L-194 be translated
February 1, 1692 Robert Hooke called Leeuwenhoek the microscope's "single votary"
January 31, 1693 editor Richard Waller began publishing Leeuwenhoek again in Philosophical Transactions
November 30, 1693 Hans Sloane was elected Secretary of the Royal Society and editor of Philosophical Transactions, publishing 68 articles by Leeuwenhoek over the next twenty years
January 1, 1700 Visited (possibly) by Hans Sloane, his editor at Philosophical Transactions
May 18, 1707 The Royal Society read Letter L-452 of 1707-05-17 about bezoar stone and unanswered letters

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