Martin FolkesFRS (29 October 1690 – 28 June 1754) was an English antiquary, numismatist, mathematician and astronomer who served as the president of the Royal Society from 1741 to 1752.
Folkes was born in Westminster on 29 October 1690, the eldest son of Martin Folkes, councillor at Law.[1] Educated at Clare College, Cambridge,[2] he so distinguished himself in mathematics that when only twenty-three years of age he was chosen a fellow of the Royal Society. He was elected one of the council in 1716, and in 1723 Sir Isaac Newton, president of the society, appointed him one of the vice-presidents. On the death of Newton he became a candidate for the presidency, but was defeated by Sir Hans Sloane, whom, however, he succeeded in 1741; in 1742 he was made a member of the French Royal Academy of Sciences; in 1746 he received honorary degrees from Oxford and Cambridge.
Folkes was a prominent Freemason, being appointed Deputy Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England during the year 1724–1725.[3]
In 1733 he set out on a tour through Italy, in the course of which he composed his Dissertations on the weights and Values of Ancient Coins. Before the Society of Antiquaries, of which he was president from 1749 to 1754, he read in 1736 his Observations on the Trajan and Antonine Pillars at Rome and his Table of English Gold Coins from the 18th Year of King Edward III. In 1745 he printed the latter with another on the history of silver coinage. He also contributed both to the Society of Antiquaries and to the Royal Society other papers, chiefly on Roman antiquities. In 1739 he was elected one of the founding vice-presidents of London's charitable Foundling Hospital for abandoned children, a position he maintained until 1747.
Folkes was married in 1714 to Lucretia Bradshaw, an actress who had appeared at the Haymarket and Drury Lane (see Nichols's Lit. Anecdot. ii. 578–598). His portrait was painted and etched by William Hogarth (1697–1764).
Folkes was a noted atheist, and opposed racial prejudice. Some of his public statements have been interpreted as evidence of a Darwinian viewpoint.[4] According to the archaeologist William Stukeley, he set up an Infidels Club in 1720, and caused several young noblemen of the Royal Society to jeer whenever scriptural material was injected into a scientific debate.[5]
For Sir John Hill's attack on Folkes (Review of the Works of the Royal Soc., 1751), see Isaac D'Israeli, Calamities and Quarrels of Authors (1860), pp. 364–366.
Haycock, David Boyd. "Folkes, Martin". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9795. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Albert G. Mackey, M.D. An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences, New and Revised edition. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1894. p. 280
^"Martin Folkes (FLKS706M)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^G. W. Speth (ed), Quatuor Coronatorum Antigrapha, Vol 10, 1913, Minutes of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England, p. 58
^Pietre-Stones Alain Bernheim, My approach to Masonic History, Manchester 2011, retrieved 13 September 2013
^W. C. Lucis (ed), The Family Memoirs of the Rev. William Stukeley M.D., Surtees Society, 1882, pp 98–100
^'The Abbey Scientists' Hall, A.R. p12: London; Roger & Robert Nicholson; 1966
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Folkes, Martin". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 600.
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martin, folkes, confused, with, martin, ffolkes, october, 1690, june, 1754, english, antiquary, numismatist, mathematician, astronomer, served, president, royal, society, from, 1741, 1752, frspresident, royal, societyin, office, 1741, 1752preceded, byhans, slo. Not to be confused with Martin Ffolkes Martin Folkes FRS 29 October 1690 28 June 1754 was an English antiquary numismatist mathematician and astronomer who served as the president of the Royal Society from 1741 to 1752 Martin FolkesFRSPresident of the Royal SocietyIn office 1741 1752Preceded byHans SloaneSucceeded byGeorge ParkerPersonal detailsBorn 1690 10 29 29 October 1690Westminster London England UKDied28 June 1754 1754 06 28 aged 63 SpouseLucretia Bradshaw fl 1714 1741 Children3OccupationAntiquary numismatist mathematician and astronomerMartin Folkes by Roubiliac British Museum Contents 1 Life 2 Sources 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife editFolkes was born in Westminster on 29 October 1690 the eldest son of Martin Folkes councillor at Law 1 Educated at Clare College Cambridge 2 he so distinguished himself in mathematics that when only twenty three years of age he was chosen a fellow of the Royal Society He was elected one of the council in 1716 and in 1723 Sir Isaac Newton president of the society appointed him one of the vice presidents On the death of Newton he became a candidate for the presidency but was defeated by Sir Hans Sloane whom however he succeeded in 1741 in 1742 he was made a member of the French Royal Academy of Sciences in 1746 he received honorary degrees from Oxford and Cambridge Folkes was a prominent Freemason being appointed Deputy Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England during the year 1724 1725 3 In 1733 he set out on a tour through Italy in the course of which he composed his Dissertations on the weights and Values of Ancient Coins Before the Society of Antiquaries of which he was president from 1749 to 1754 he read in 1736 his Observations on the Trajan and Antonine Pillars at Rome and his Table of English Gold Coins from the 18th Year of King Edward III In 1745 he printed the latter with another on the history of silver coinage He also contributed both to the Society of Antiquaries and to the Royal Society other papers chiefly on Roman antiquities In 1739 he was elected one of the founding vice presidents of London s charitable Foundling Hospital for abandoned children a position he maintained until 1747 Folkes was married in 1714 to Lucretia Bradshaw an actress who had appeared at the Haymarket and Drury Lane see Nichols s Lit Anecdot ii 578 598 His portrait was painted and etched by William Hogarth 1697 1764 Folkes was a noted atheist and opposed racial prejudice Some of his public statements have been interpreted as evidence of a Darwinian viewpoint 4 According to the archaeologist William Stukeley he set up an Infidels Club in 1720 and caused several young noblemen of the Royal Society to jeer whenever scriptural material was injected into a scientific debate 5 For Sir John Hill s attack on Folkes Review of the Works of the Royal Soc 1751 see Isaac D Israeli Calamities and Quarrels of Authors 1860 pp 364 366 There is a memorial to Folkes at Westminster Abbey 6 Sources editHaycock David Boyd Folkes Martin Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 9795 Subscription or UK public library membership required See also editList of presidents of the Royal SocietyReferences edit Albert G Mackey M D An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences New and Revised edition Philadelphia L H Everts amp Co 1894 p 280 Martin Folkes FLKS706M A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge G W Speth ed Quatuor Coronatorum Antigrapha Vol 10 1913 Minutes of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England p 58 Pietre Stones Alain Bernheim My approach to Masonic History Manchester 2011 retrieved 13 September 2013 W C Lucis ed The Family Memoirs of the Rev William Stukeley M D Surtees Society 1882 pp 98 100 The Abbey Scientists Hall A R p12 London Roger amp Robert Nicholson 1966 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Folkes Martin Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 10 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 600 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martin Folkes Professional and academic associationsPreceded byHans Sloane 14th President of the Royal Society1741 1752 Succeeded byGeorge Parker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Martin Folkes amp oldid 1189741110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
