
Luke Batterham
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Senior Valuer
SIR HUMPHRY DAVY ON HOW TO BE ELECTED TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY: 'on 30 November 1820 Davy was elected to what was then a position of lonely eminence in the world of British science. In the event, Davy's reputation was tarnished by his taking this responsibility: had he died in 1819 it would have been glittering. The society was teetering between remaining a gentlemen's club and becoming an academy of sciences. Davy favoured judicious modernizing and was tolerant of specialisms, and during his presidency the council of the society came to include a majority of men with one or more scientific publications. He made publication an important factor in election, but, lacking the social status of Banks, he was unable to force his will upon the fellows, and found himself between hostile camps, pleasing nobody' (David Knight, ODNB). He was to continue as President until 1827.