FREEMASONS AND THE ROYAL SOCIETY Alphabetical List of ...

Fellows of the Royal Society who are or were Freemasons, listed alphabetically
Society for his work on the observations of the transit of Venus and ‘other useful discoveries tending to the
improvement of mathematical knowledge’. 451
Married, 1 Dec 1747, at St. George’s, East Stonehouse, Devonshire, Anne Elliot (1723–1791), dau of John Elliot
of Plymouth, so when he died at Chartley Manor Place, Staffordshire, without issue aged 56 and was buried, 11 Oct
1778 at Staunton Harold, he was succeeded by his next brother, Robert Shirley (18 Jul 1723–17 Apr 1787), as 6th
Earl Ferrers, who became a [G]Stwd and SGW, PGL, 30 Apr 1747.
Although various other members of the 5 th Earl’s extensive family were Freemasons, only Robert Shirley (4 Sep
1673–25 Feb 1699), eldest son of the 1 st Earl Ferrers, was elected FRS on 11 Jan 1699, shortly before his death,
during his father’s lifetime.
Details of his Initiation have yet to be discovered, but he was WM, L. No. 2 at Horn Tavern, now Royal Somerset
House and Inverness L. No. 4, when he was proclaimed GM, PGL, 3 May 1762-–8 May 1764.
Granted Warrant dated 9 Jun 1762 to L. No. 283 452 (later [1773] named L. of Friendship No. 230), at King’s
Head, Market Place, Lynn Regis (now King’s Lynn), Norfolk, and to Lennox L. No. 297 (now No. 123)., at
Freemasons’ Arms, Bargate, Richmond, Yorkshire, North Riding, on 4 May 1763.
In 1763 he conceived scheme for expanding influence of the Craft and it was Stewards’ L. No. 70 (now
unnumbered), then meeting at Horn Tavern, Fleet Street, that was chosen for what Colin Dyer calls ‘the launching
platform’. As outlined by the JGW, Thomas Edmondes, in very long Address, firstfirst promulgated the erection of ‘a
proper building for the accommodation of the grand convocation, and grand Ls. . . ., together with spacious rooms for
a growing library, and school, for the qualifying and finishing of 12 boys, sons of poor Mason . . . as it should seem
best to a committee of Masons delegated for that purpose. [ . . . ] It has been said that, because of the opposition
developed to the scheme, Lord Ferrers gave up as GM in exasperation in 1764, when he had occupied the office for
only two2 years.’ 453
Signed Warrant of Constitution, 16 Mar 1764, for ProvGL of Brunswick, but this was never organized. 454 Gave
shelter and protection to the famous Chevalier D’Eon, a member of the Lodge L’Immortalité de l’Ordre [a French
Lodge] No. 376, London, 455 at his home, Staunton Harold, during the height of the controversy regarding the latter’s
sex.
Sievier, Robert William, FRS [4 Mar 1841] (24 Jul 1794–28 Apr 1865), of The Old Manor House, Upper Holloway
engraver, sculptor and inventor.
Showed an early talent for drawing, and studied under John Young and Edward Scriven before attending the
Royal Academy Schools, 1818. His speciality was portrait engravings, though he also did other works, including
subjects from William Etty, whose portrait he also engraved. By 1823, however, he had abandoned engraving for
sculpture. His sculpture portrait subjects included Prince Albert, later The Prince Consort, and Sir Thomas Lawrence,
PRA, now in the Sir John Soane Museum, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1822–44, and his
output there included several busts, figure subjects, gravestones and monuments. His first studio was in Southampton
Row, 1837, moved to Henrietta Street, near Cavendish Square. Some of his best-known works include statues of
Charles Dibdin, at Greenwich, FM William Harcourt, 3 rd Earl Harcourt, at St Andrew’s, Clewer, and at St George’s
Chapel, Windsor, Capt Thomas Coram, Founder, Foundling Hospital; and 2 in Gloucester Cathedral: Sir George Paul
(1746–1820), prison reformer and co administrator; and Dr Edward Jenner, FRS [qv, above].
In 1836, patented a process for rubberizing fabrics and formed a ‘patent’ company, the London Caoutchouc
Company (caoutchouc being the original name for India rubber), which became large-scale manufacturers of elastic
driving bands for machinery, rope for mines, waterproof cloths and garments, and waterproof canvas, as well the first
rubber-insulated wire. His interests in manufacturing took over from the early 1840s onwards, his factory being
situated close to his home, where he also carried out experiments in electrical telegraphy. Bur in Kensal Green
Cemetery.
Initiated, 26 Nov 1845, L. of Antiquity No. 2, London.
Sloane, William, FRS [24 May 1722] (?–1767), gentleman, nephew of Sir Hans Sloane, FRS [21 Jan 1785; PRS
1727–41] (16 Apr 1660–11 Jan 1753).
451
As recorded in An Account of the L. of the Nine Muses, 175, together with details of his naval career mentioned earlier.
452
The L. changed its no. 6 times and its meeting-place 5 times (though twice at the same venue) before being erased, as No. 139, on 3 Sep
1838 [Lane, 128].
453
Dyer, 50.
454
AQC 9, 113.
455
Warranted 16 Jun 1766 as No. 376 and constituted 8 Sep 1766, meeting at the Crown and Anchor, Strand, London, named L’Immortalité de
L’Ordre [A French Lodge], ‘called “Crown and Anchor Lodge, constituted ye Lodge of Immortality in ye Strand”, 1766’, changing its number
once in 1770 and as No. 303 was erased on 28 April 1775 [Lane, p. 149].
462 rd
The 3 of the 4 Fellows with the same name.
104