Sir Robert Moray, F. R. S. (1608?-1673)

Sir Robert Moray, soldier, statesman, scientist and counsellor of kings was a man of independent character who gave a faithful and enduring devotion to the causes he espoused. These causes included the welfare of his native land of Scotland, an intense loyalty to his monarch and an interest in promoting the new experimental philosophy of his time. He was one of the principal architects of the Royal Society. None excelled him in energy and enthusiasm in services designed to establish the Society firmly in circumstances which would secure its successful future. In the period between 28 November 1660 and the granting of the first charter in 1662 the president was elected monthly and Moray acted in this capacity much more frequently than any other. That the company of natural philosophers could count among them one who brought great experience of negotiating important affairs of state, was an intimate friend of King Charles II, in addition to possessing a zealous and widespread interest in scientific matters was a most fortunate circumstance. Huygens, who knew the Society and Moray very well, described Moray as the ‘soul’ of the Society and at the time of Moray’s death in 1673 a contemporary historian, Burnet, used the expression ‘while he lived, he was the life and soul of that body’. By the personal order and expense of the King, Moray was buried in Westminster Abbey.