Administrative history | An important activity of the early Royal Society was the collecting of Scientific Instruments and natural history specimens. This resulted in the creation of a museum or repository, first described by Nehemiah Grew in 1681. Poor storage conditions led to the deterioration of the collection during the 18th century, and the Society's move to Somerset House prompted the donation of most of the surviving objects to the British Museum in 1781. Those items retained by the Society are listed here alongside recent acquisitions. |