Royal Institution
Preserved but no longer current.
An association founded in 1799 for the purpose of prosecuting scientific and literary research, to further experimental science, and give opportunities for the ex- change of views and experiences. Under the patronage of the sovereign, it consists of a president and a number of professors, among whom have been numbered Humphry Davy, Faraday, Tyndall, Rayleigh, Sir James Dewar.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Royal Institution” mean?
An association founded in 1799 for the purpose of prosecuting scientific and literary research, to further experimental science, and give opportunities for the ex- change of views and experiences. Under the patronage of the sovereign, it consists of a president and a number of professors, among whom have been numbered Humphry Davy, Faraday, Tyndall, Rayleigh, Sir James Dewar.
Is “Royal Institution” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.