The Lunar Society was a group of gifted polymaths who met every month in Birmingham on the Monday close to a full moon because there was most light to travel home by, from 1765 until 1813. In the beginning, they called themselves the Lunar Circle, and got the title of Lunar Society' later on in 1775.
These men were not only interested in science, but in the application of science to manufacturing, mining, transportation, education, medicine amongst others. By increasing productive capacity they would be able to transport material to a large extent. They were proud of themselves and organised the meetings to be fun as well as intellectual. This is seen as they used to refer themselves as ‘Lunaticks’.
Matthew Bolton was the man who built up the most famous manufacturing business of the day. He was the one who made James Watt's condensing steam engine possible. He also invented modern, high quality, fraud resistant coinage.
Matthew Bolton
James Watt was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer, renowned for his improvements in steam engine technology. Not only was he the inventor of the condensing and rotary steam engines but he was also the maker of musical and scientific instruments.
James Watt
They held their meetings in one another's houses, often meeting at Matthew Bolton’s home, Soho House, which is not far from the Jewellery Quarter and is open to the public. The Lunar Society was formally wound up in 1813, by which time only James Keir, James Watt, Edgeworth and Samuel Galton were still alive. They held a lottery to decide who should have their books, which Samuel Galton won. The youngest of the group, he survived until 1832. The rest were all gone by 1820.
Soho House
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