The Lunar Society History Talk took place on Thursday 20 February 2014 at The University of Birmingham. This year’s speaker was Lucy Bamford, Keeper of Art at Derby Museum who lectured on the life and work of the artist Joseph Wright of Derby. [caption id="attachment_7686" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Several lecture attendees signed up for a future visit to the Assay Office during the evening for which we are most appreciative. For more information on the Guide to 18th Cen…

The group comprised some of the outstanding minds of the day. It was jointly founded by two extraordinary polymaths: metalware manufacturer and steam engine pioneer Matthew Boulton (who founded the Birmingham Assay Office in 1773), and physician and poet Dr Erasmus Darwin. Other members included Unitarian minister and discoverer of oxygen Joseph Priestley; physician and mathematics tutor to US President Thomas Jefferson, Dr William Small; steam engineer and inventor James Watt; pottery manuf…