Royal Society Biographical Memoirs are free to read online!
The Royal Society is a learned society and the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences. Since 1932, the Royal Society has been publishing extended obituaries of its Fellows and Foreign Members. The Biographical Memoirs are recognized as definitive accounts of the life and work of these eminent scientists, providing a valuable resource for both scientists and historians of science. All memoirs have been free to read online since 2020, including those on Alan Turing, Stephen Hawking, Francis Crick and Dorothy Hodgkin.
Each memoir is carefully researched and creatively written, usually by a close colleague or research collaborator. The main focus is the science and scientific endeavour, but the memoirs also offer a fascinating insight into the character and personalities of the individuals involved. Readers can discover how the science was achieved within the historical context and follow the development of specific scientific disciplines and fields of research.
These memoirs provide a rich and unique resource to supplement undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and seminars. Students will benefit from understanding how their research field has developed and be inspired by the stories of those who have succeeded before.
Explore the memoirs here.
