The
French Academy of Sciences (
French Académie des sciences) is a
learned society, founded in 1666 by
Louis XIV at the suggestion of
Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of
French scientific research. It was at the forefront of scientific developments in
Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is one of the earliest
academies of sciences.
The Academy of Sciences owes its origin to Colbert's plan to create a general academy. He chose a small group of scholars who met on December 22, 1666 in the King's library, and thereafter held twice-weekly working meetings there. The first 30 years of the Academy's existence were relatively informal, since no statutes had as yet been laid down for the institution. In contrast to its British counterpart, the Academy was founded as an organ of government. The Academy was expected to remain apolitical, and to avoid discussion of religious and social issues (Conner, 2005, p. 385)
On January 20, 1699, Louis XIV gave the Company its first rules. The Academy received the name of Royal Academy of Sciences and was installed in the Louvre in Paris. On August 8, 1793, the National Convention abolished all the academies. On August 22, 1795, a National Institute of Sciences and Arts was put in place, bringing together the old academies of the sciences, literature and arts, among them the Académie française and the Académie des sciences. Almost all the old members of the previously abolished Académie were formally re-elected and retook their ancient seats. Among the exceptions was Dominique, comte de Cassini who refused to take his seat. Membership in the Academy was not restricted to scientists in 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte was elected a member of the Academy and three year later later president in connection with his Egyptian expedition, which had a scientific component.[1] In 1816, the again renamed Royal Academy of Sciences became autonomous, while forming part of the Institute of France; the head of State became its patron. In the Second Republic, the name returned to Académie des sciences. During this period, the Academy was funded by and accountable to the Ministry of Public Instruction.[2] The Academy came to control French patent laws in the course of the eighteenth century, acting as the liaison of artisans' knowledge to the public domain. As a result, academicians dominated technological activities in France (Conner, 2005, p. 385). The Academy proceedings were published under the name "Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences" (1835-1965). The publications can be found on site of the French National Library in pdf format.
Today the Academy is one of five academies comprising the Institut de France. Its members are elected for life. Currently there are 150 full members, 300 corresponding members, and 120 foreign associates. They are divided into two scientific groups the Mathematical and Physical sciences and their applications and the Chemical, Biological, Geological and Medical sciences and their applications.
