Journee Dunbar

In the mid to late 17 th century London, coffee houses were instrumental in facilitating learning and the spread of new theories in mathematics, among other academic disciplines.

It was said by Henry C Shelley in the Inns and Taverns of Old London that “men of science as well as scholars gave liberal patronage to the Grecian. It was a common thing for meetings of the Royal Society to be continued in a social way at this coffee-house, the president, Sir Isaac Newton, being frequently of the parties. Hither, too, came Professor Halley, the great astronomer, to meet his friends on his weekly visit to London from Oxford.”

The Royal Society is most formerly known as “a Fellowship of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.” Before Sir Isaac Newton found a permanent home for the Royal Society, its meeting places were in coffee houses all around London purely focused on the progression of math and science. Without a place to meet, this society could have easily dissolved or would not have attracted nearly as many enlightened figures throughout the 17 th century, which would have slowed down discoveries and advancements.

It was quite common for one to hold lectures of mathematics, science, literature, arts and the like by renowned people such as William Whiston, professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University. Another person you may find would be Francis Hauksbee, assistant to Sir Isaac Newton who designed many electric generators.

Abraham de Moivre, of the de Moivre theory for the advancement of trigonometry could be found at Slaughter’s Coffee House when in need of mathematical advice or a good chess game. John Harris of Oxford University gave lectures in mathematics and astronomy at the Marine Coffee House who is most well-known for Lexicon Technicum: Or, A Universal English Dictionary of Arts and Sciences.

Before coffee houses, the enlightened thinkers were only including other colleagues in their ventures for knowledge or would have kept to themselves entirely. Some were only tolerated because they went to the coffee houses and were socially involved, but would have otherwise been outcasts for their views on religion that sometimes slipped into their lectures.