Richard Waller
Who was Richard Waller?
English naturalist, translator and illustrator
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Richard Waller (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Richard Waller FRS (d. 1715) was an English naturalist, translator, and illustrator. He devoted much of his life to working with the Royal Society, where he became one of its most hardworking and long-serving members. While the exact date of his birth is unknown, records show he joined the Royal Society on 27 April 1681. Over the years, he held significant positions within the institution. His work included scientific administration, translation, editorial tasks, and creating botanical and fossil illustrations, making him key in spreading natural philosophy in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
Waller held the role of Secretary of the Royal Society from 1687 to 1709 and again from 1710 to 1714, a remarkable length of service at the time. He was also on the council from 1686 to 1699 and served as Vice-President during Isaac Newton's presidency, putting him at the center of the Society's leadership during a pivotal time in science history. Between 1691 and 1695, he edited the Philosophical Transactions, the world's oldest continuously published scientific journal, and he often translated letters and submissions from international scholars, helping to share the Society's work globally.
One of his notable works, the Essays of Natural Experiments, was an English translation of the Saggi di naturali esperienze from the Accademia del Cimento, a Florentine experimental academy known for groundbreaking work in physics and natural science. By translating this Italian work, Waller made their findings accessible to a wider English-speaking audience. The Royal Society's archive also includes botanical illustrations by Waller, thought to be intended for publication with the naturalist John Ray, though this project never came to be. His fossil drawings were later discovered along with those of Robert Hooke in the British Library.
Waller had a close relationship with Robert Hooke; they shared a love of books and often exchanged them. When Hooke died in 1703, he left his papers and records to Waller, who took on the challenging task of editing them. This resulted in Hooke's Posthumous Works, published in 1705, preserving a large portion of Hooke's scientific thoughts and correspondence. This effort showed both Waller's scholarly dedication and his loyalty to a fellow Society member.
In 1685, Waller married Anne Blackwell (1669–1744), daughter of Bristol wine merchant Jonathan Blackwell, whose family funded the construction of the Christmas Steps in Bristol. The couple had no surviving children, and after Waller's death, his property, including his library and a house in Northaw, Hertfordshire, was left to his wife. Anne later named her younger brother Jonathan Blackwell as her sole heir. Jonathan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, nominated by Waller, though he did not engage in scientific activities. Waller likely died at Northaw between 23 December 1714 and 13 January 1715.
Before Fame
We don't know much about Richard Waller's early life, including exactly when he was born or details about his education and upbringing. He was born around 1660, right after the Restoration of Charles II, a period when English intellectual life was changing with the founding and early growth of the Royal Society, which started in 1660. The culture of natural philosophy, experimentation, and scholarly communication encouraged by the Society would have shaped the intellectual world Waller grew up in.
By 1681, Waller had made enough of a name for himself to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, suggesting he already had some recognition in scholarly circles. His skill with languages, especially Italian, and his interest in natural history and illustration would have made him a valuable contributor to the Society's wide-ranging inquiries. The specifics of how he went from his early years to becoming a member and later secretary are largely unknown, but his skills indicate he was well-read and genuinely committed to advancing natural knowledge.
Key Achievements
- Served as Secretary of the Royal Society for over two decades, including terms from 1687 to 1709 and 1710 to 1714
- Edited the Philosophical Transactions from 1691 to 1695
- Translated the Accademia del Cimento's Saggi di naturali esperienze into English as Essays of Natural Experiments
- Edited and published Hooke's Posthumous Works (1705), preserving Robert Hooke's scientific legacy
- Served as Vice-President of the Royal Society during Isaac Newton's presidency
Did You Know?
- 01.Waller translated the Saggi di naturali esperienze of the Accademia del Cimento, an Italian experimental academy founded under Medici patronage, making its findings accessible to English-speaking readers as Essays of Natural Experiments.
- 02.When Robert Hooke died in 1703, his papers were specifically entrusted to Waller, who spent years editing them before publishing Hooke's Posthumous Works in 1705.
- 03.Waller's botanical illustrations, held in the Royal Society archive, are thought to have been prepared for a publication associated with the naturalist John Ray, though the intended work was never published.
- 04.Waller's fossil drawings were rediscovered in the British Library alongside those of Robert Hooke, having been overlooked for an extended period.
- 05.Waller's wife Anne Blackwell outlived him by nearly three decades, dying in 1744, and her family's name is associated with the funding of the Christmas Steps, a historic stairway in Bristol.