Person Copley; Sir; Godfrey (c 1653 - 1709); politician Copley Godfrey Sir politician c 1653 - 1709 British Male c 1653 His house in Red Lion Square, Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe 9 April 1709 17090409 Burial: Sprotborough, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe (23 April 1709)

Politician Education: Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1674); Inner Temple (admitted 1681) Career: Sheriff of Yorkshire (1676-1677, 1677-1678); MP for Aldborough (1679-1681); MP for Thirsk (1695-death); Commissioner of Public Accounts; Controller of Army Accounts (1691) Parents: Sir Godfrey Copley, 1st Baronet, and Eleanor Walmesley; succeeded his father as second baronet (1677) Married: 1) Catherine Purcell; 2) Gertrude Carew Children: 1) Catherine Copley Copley held varied interests in branches of natural philosophy and antiquities. He was a close friend of Sir Hans Sloane (FRS 1685) and Ralph Thoresby (FRS 1697). The Copley Medal is the oldest Royal Society medal and is considered the oldest surviving scientific award in the world. Its first recipient was Stephen Gray (FRS 1733). Royal Society roles: Council 1692-1693, 1695-1699, 1703-1708 Committees/panels: Committee to wait upon Lord Halifax (1707) Fellow 30/11/1691 Sir John Hoskins Left £100 legacy to the Society for experiments or other benefits to the Society (1709), which developed into the Copley Medal Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Hunter; GEC Baronetage; Henning; LI References: Armytage, W H G. 1954-55. 'Sir Godfrey Copley, FRS (FRS 1653-1709). Some Tercentenary Glimpses through Letters to his Friends', in Notes and Records, vol. 11, pp. 54-74 Maddison, R E W. 1960. 'Abraham Hill, FRS (1635-1722)', in Notes and Records, vol. 15, pp. 173-182 Notes: Proposed by Sir John Hoskins. GEC says he was said to have been 13 at the Heralds' Visitation of Yorkshire in 1666. Copley G, IM000952.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH1969 ? 1653 - 9 Apr 1709 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 24/11/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8421 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 17/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/90497456 13566d5c-7234-46c2-914d-5f486a9209fd