Editing Danzig Research Society (section)

==History==
Already in 1670, the physician [[Israel Conradi]] (1634–1715) had tried to organize a scientific society in the city, without success. Several others tried after him, until [[Daniel Gralath]] (1708–1767) finally succeeded. His father-in-law was [[Jacob Theodor Klein]] (1685–1759), a city secretary and also a very distinguished scientist, nicknamed ''Gedanensium Plinius''.

[[File:Gdańsk, Brama Zielona (WLZ14).JPG|thumb|[[Green Gate]], seat of the organization from 1746 to 1846]]
At the end of 1742, Gralath had gathered a group of learned men for his purpose, an ''Experimental Physics Society'' (Societas Physicae Experimentalis), one of the oldest research societies of its type. The first organizing meeting took place on 7 November 1742, the first scientific meeting was called on 2 January 1743. The aim of the Society was to practice and popularize science, among others through weekly public demonstrations of the most interesting experiments in physics. Often the effects of [[electricity]] were studied, with the help of the [[Leyden jar]]. Since 1746 these took place in the Great Hall of the [[Green Gate]]. Gralath also became a [[councilman]] and, in 1763, mayor of Danzig. The Society was also supported by Polish King [[Stanisław August Poniatowski]].

Known members were [[Nathanael Matthaeus von Wolf]], [[Michael Christoph Hanow]], [[Gottfried Lengnich]], [[Johann Jacob Mascov]], who wrote the ''Geschichte der Teutschen'', also [[Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit]] and the [[prince-bishop]] [[Adam Stanisław Grabowski]].

The sessions of the Society were also attended by many famous persons of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] like [[Great Lithuanian Hetman]] [[Michał Kazimierz "Rybeńko" Radziwiłł]], [[August Fryderyk Moszyński]], [[Joachim Chreptowicz]].

After the annexation of the city by [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] in the [[Second Partition of Poland]] and during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the organization fell into such decline that in 1812 it was proposed to dissolve it, however, several members decided to continue its activity.<ref name=uni/>

In 1840 [[Alexander von Humboldt]] accompanied [[Prussian King]] [[Frederick William IV]] on the way to [[Königsberg]], and Humboldt received an honorary membership in the Society. Later, the society offered Humboldt stipends. The collections of the Society were displayed in the [[province of West Prussia|West-Prussian Provincial]] Museum located at the Green Gate.

In 1845 the society was located in a [[Renaissance in Poland|Renaissance]]-era building at the [[Motława]], an arm of the [[Vistula]] River. The new seat housed research facilities, a small museum and a library, and was decorated with portraits of former prominent members of the organization, as well as a portrait of [[Nicolaus Copernicus]], and a bust of [[Johannes Hevelius]] received as a gift from Polish King [[Stanisław August Poniatowski]] in the 18th century.<ref name=arc>{{cite web|url=https://archeologia.pl/oddzialy/dom-przyrodnikow|title=Główny Gmach MAG - Dom Przyrodników|website=Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku|access-date=2 January 2021|language=pl}}</ref> In 1866, an astronomical observatory was placed in its tower.<ref name=arc/>

After 200 years of existence, the society ceased to exist in 1936. The building and many priceless valuables<ref name=uni>{{Cite web |url=http://staff-www.uni-marburg.de/~gornig/danzig/geschichte.htm |title=Geschichte der Danziger Naturforschenden Gesellschaft<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050131091324/http://staff-www.uni-marburg.de/~gornig/danzig/geschichte.htm |archive-date=2005-01-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> were destroyed during the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] offensive in 1945, two years after the 200th anniversary.

The building at the Motława river was rebuilt after the war. It houses an Archaeological Museum today.<ref name=arc/>