Editing Danzig Research Society

{{Infobox organization
|image        = Dom Przyrodników od strony Długiego Pobrzeża.jpg
|caption      = Seat of the organization in 1846–1936
|logo         =
|logo_caption =
|name         = Danzig Research Society
|formation    = 1743
|location_city= [[Gdańsk|Danzig]]
|founder      = [[Daniel Gralath]]
|dissolved    = 1936
|coordinates  = {{coord|54.349|N|18.657|E|display=inline,title}}
|website      =
}}

The '''Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Danzig''' (translated '''Danzig Research Society''', {{langx|la|Societas Physicae Experimentalis}}, {{langx|pl|Gdańskie Towarzystwo Przyrodnicze}}) was a scientific organization, founded in 1743 in Danzig ([[Gdańsk]]), [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]], which continued in existence until 1936. The ''Societas Physicae Experimentalis'' (Experimental Physics Society) was one of the oldest research societies in the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and in [[Central and Eastern Europe]].

==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/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060928054834/http://www.scholarly-societies.org/history/1743ngd.html List of publications by Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Danzig]
* E. Schumann, ''History of the Research Society in Danzig 1743–1892'' (''Geschichte der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Danzig 1743–1892'')
* {{in lang|en}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20050427215259/http://www.pg.gda.pl/januszajtis/2000/1.PDF Andrzej Januszajtis, ''Scientists in Old Gdansk'']
* Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Dantzig (1747), {{Google books|id=fcJlAAAAcAAJ|title=Versuche und Abhandlungen der naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Dantzig}}

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[[Category:1743 establishments in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]
[[Category:1936 disestablishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Gdańsk]]
[[Category:History of Gdańsk]]
[[Category:Learned societies of Poland]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Prussia]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Prussia]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 1743]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 1936]]