Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society

Dr James Lawson Drummond elected first President.

Thanks of the Society were sent to managers and visitors of the Belfast Academical Institution for the encouragement given to the society and the accommodation afforded for its meetings.

Botanic Gardens formed by the exertions of members of the society.

Site decided upon in College Square North for erection of museum.

The foundation stone of the museum building was laid by George Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall

Decided that it would be desirable, after removal of society to its museum, to have occasional meetings of a more public character.

Arrangement of museum collections commenced. Proprietors of London steamship ‘Erin’ agreed to convey packages for museum at half the usual rate.

Thomas Greg of Ballymenoch presented the Egyptian mummy Takabuti.

Exhibition of paintings by the Belfast Association of Artists held in museum.

The society purchased an Irish elk skeleton from Dublin.

Name of Society altered to ‘The Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society’.

William Darragh appointed Curator of the Belfast Museum.

Commencement of special attractions on Easter Monday for members of the public to visit the museum at a nominal charge. This remained a popular feature of museum activities until 1910.

Students to be admitted to museum only in presence of a professor, on condition that he remains while they are in the building.

Belfast Rhetorical Society wished to meet in lecture room, but was refused as the rules of society forbade the introduction of subjects of a political nature.

Attendance at Easter Monday opening numbered 5,950.

Dr Thomas Andrews delivered a lecture on the new metal aluminum: its preparation and properties.

Twenty-year-old Dr David Walker, surgeon and naturalist aboard the yacht Fox, (which was sent to ascertain the fate of Sir John Franklin, lost while looking for the North-West Passage), lectured on Arctic regions.

Founding of the Belfast Field Naturalists’ Club (later the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club) in museum building by society members and others.

Belfast Ladies Institute meets in museum building for literary and scientific lectures to young women.

Visitors in 1871

The council resolved to publish regular proceedings of the Society. First volume in series appeared in 1873. Copies exchanged with other learned societies in Ireland and Britain, as well as further afield.

Belfast Architectural Association meets in museum building.

Museum welcomed visitors from meeting of the British Association and members took part in events. On this occasion Professor John Tyndall delivered his famous paper, afterwards known as Tyndall’s ‘Belfast Address’.

It is not to the point to say that the views of Lucretius and Bruno, of Darwin and Spencer, may be wrong… the point is, that, whether right or wrong, we ask the freedom to discuss them.

John Tyndall

John N. Greenhill lectured on ‘Professor Graham Bell’s telephone’. Wires connected between museum and post office at front of High Street and conversation carried on and tune played on a musical instrument.

Belfast Celtic Society was granted accommodation in the museum.

The Ulster Medical Society began to hold lectures in the museum.

Unveiling of 10-ton steel armour plate, presented by the Admiralty, in front of the building, by the Mayor, C.C. Connor.

Catalogue of books in the Society’s library published. The collection included early editions of work by Robert Boyle and Charles Darwin. William Darragh retired as Curator and was replaced by Samuel Alexander Stewart.

Alice Milligan delivered a lecture to the Society, the first woman to do so; her topic was ‘Historic Ulster’.

Ancient stone of the O’Neills of Castlereagh presented by subscribers.