Science City : Craft, Commerce and Curiosity in London 1550-1800

An accessible yet enlightening handbook exploring London's rich history as a world-leading city of science.

An accessible yet enlightening handbook exploring London''s rich history as a world-leading city of science. Many cities around the world could claim to have a rich scientific history. However, between 1550 and 1800, London fostered its very own particular brand of scientific enquiry and practice. Science City explores how science shaped London, and London shaped science, as Britain''s new capital grew to become a powerful world city, a nexus of administration for ambitious scientific projects and a place to obtain exceptional scientific equipment. This richly illustrated book accompanies Science City 1550-1800: The Linbury Gallery at the Science Museum, London, scheduled to open in the autumn of 2019. Introduction: Science City Chapter 1: A New Trade in London, 1550-1650 Chapter 2: Experiment and the City, 1660-1727 Chapter 3: Public Science in London, 1720-1790 Chapter 4: Science in a World City, 1745-1800 Chapter 5: Making Instruments Today: An Interview with Joanna Migdal Chapter 6: Experimental Science Today: The Role of the Royal Society Chapter 7: London Today: Inspiring Futures Endnotes Further reading Acknowledgements Author biographies Index