Lunar Society of Birmingham

The Lunar Society (English for "Lunar Society ") was a 1765 founded by Erasmus Darwin in Birmingham Society of the smartest people in the UK, consisting of poets, theologians, inventors, doctors, writers, physicists, chemists and industrialists.

It was given its name because the members met once a month at full moon, to enable the Assembly to be able to drive at night in natural lighting back home, because at that time there was no street lighting. In a time when communication and exchange of knowledge otherwise was very difficult, the participants discussed their latest research results and knowledge to learn from and inspire each other.

Matthew Boulton, Thomas Day, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Samuel John Galton, Robert Augustus Johnson, James Keir, Joseph Priestley, William Small, Jonathan Stokes, James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood, John Whitehurst and William Withering were next to the founder Erasmus Darwin members of the influential society. Antoine Lavoisier corresponded with various group members and Benjamin Franklin visited the union repeatedly.

The Lunar Society was founded in 1765, its organizer and main actor was Erasmus Darwin. 1813, eleven years after Darwin's death, the company broke up. There are commemorating in Birmingham moonstones for Watt and Boulton and a museum at the Soho House by Matthew Boulton.

A Modern Lunar Society today is concerned with the urban development in England. Under the name Lunar Republic Society today is also a company in the USA, the moon land sold.