1654 - 1664
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According to
Brown (1934), in the
years immediately following its founding in 1635, the
Académie Française received much criticism in
France.
Henri-Louis Habert de Montmor (1600?-1679) was a leader among these dissidents
(Brown (1934), p.66).
As early as 1654, Montmor opened his home to academic assemblies, in which
various learned persons held discussions; this represented a period of
irregular meetings before the formal opening of the Academy a few years
later
(Brown (1934), pp.70-71).
The Academy was formally founded in 1657 December, with the drawing up of
its constitution (Brown (1934), p.74).
The Academy was to be devoted to the study of the natural world
and the improvement of the conveniences of life
(Brown (1934), pp.75-76).
According to
Brown (1934), p.76,
"Out of its misdeeds and mistakes grew the conception of the
Académie des Sciences."
Brown (1934), pp.83-85 refers to what he
considers to be perhaps the most important event in the history of the
Academy, which occurred in 1658 when Chapelin unveiled the explanation
by Huygens of the rings of Saturn.
Brown (1934), p.116 makes the point that by late
in 1660, the year that the
Royal Society of London had been
founded, the scientists of Paris had seen in the latter an example of
what might be accomplished in an establishment with Royal patronage, and
were working towards something similar in France.
According to Brown (1934), pp.124-127,
early in 1663 steps were taken to reorganize the Academy, placing an
emphasis on experimentation;
but the document detailing this pointed out that under the circumstances
it was not possible to set up a physical laboratory for the scientists,
something that would require the intervention of the government.
Brown (1934), p.133 indicates that the
Academy ceased to exist some time between March and June of 1664, and the
the reason for its demise was petty squabbles.
But prior to the demise of the Academy there had been conflict within it,
with a subgroup headed by Melchisédec Thevenot leading a revolt
against the habits and methods of the Academy and urging the creation
of a body devoted to the experimental sciences
(Brown (1934), pp.135-142).
According to Brown (1934), pp.138-145,
one of the members of the Montmor Academy, Adrien Auzout (1522-1691),
indicated in a letter of dedication to Louis XIV in 1664 that there was a
need for a public observatory, and that there was an group that
he refers to as the
Compagnie des Sciences et des Arts ready to begin its work if it
received Royal sponsorship.
Brown (1934), pp.145-146
refers to a constitution of that Compagnie, and indicates that it
was likely that the document was created 1663-1664, and that around the
end of 1664 it was circulated among the former members of the Montmor
Academy. [Note: It seems clear that the Compagnie consisted simply
of some members of the Montmor Academy who wished to see a
government-sponsored body with the constitution proposed.]
Brown (1934), pp.146-154 describes the proposed
constitution as very ambitious, and points out that setting up such a body
in France would have infringed on the areas of influence of several existing
institutions in France.
This must surely have influenced Colbert, the government official who
had the power to make it happen.
Consequently, numerous modifications to this ambitious proposal were
required before the creation of the
Académie Royale des Sciences in late 1666.
It may be seen from the above that the
Académie de Montmor, although of brief duration itself,
played a role in the creation of one of the most prestigious of the French
Academies.
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