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THE X CLUB
The X club was founded in November, 1864.
This was a time when evolution was being debated and introduced in Britain. The Church of England moved to build their defenses for biblical creation and their beliefs on species. To counteract the church’s movement, a group of naturalists who were advocates of the evolution theory, and headed by Huxley, wanted to discuss science without religious views of individuals and the church, so they formed a dining club called the “X Club.” A club made up of Huxley’s closest friends who shared similar thinking and who would work to advance their cause of science.
The club was made up of nine members: Joseph Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew; Thomas Huxley, professor of natural history at the Royal School of Mines in London; William Spottiswoode, owner of Eyre and Spottiswoode (the Queen’s printers); Edward Frankland, professor of chemistry at the Royal Institution; John Tyndall, professor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Institution; George Busk, retired surgeon for the British Navy; Sir John Lubbock, knighted and had wealth and influence in London society; Thomas Hirst, professor of mathematics at the University College, London, and Herbert Spencer.
The group met the first Thursday of the month prior to the Royal Society Council meeting later the same evening. The group became powerful and influential in the politics of the Royal Society. The group altered the way business was done by the Royal Society. The group succeeded in having the Copley Medal awarded to Charles Darwin over Adam Sedgwick who the older members of the Society wanted to receive the award.
The club existed from November 1864 to 1892.[5]
Katheryn M. Auton
Joshua Withers
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