| This dissertation reevaluates the roles and practices of Natural History in England (1650--1700), and especially the transformation of natural history from amateur undertaking and virtuoso display to scientific enterprise. At 1650, natural history was not a single and defined activity, but consisted of a broad array of activities practised by a variety of individuals. By 1700, natural history was the disciplined enterprise of an identifiable community of natural philosophers, committed to precise, first-hand observations, agreed upon a scholarly tradition which they represented, and preoccupied with the importance of taxonomy, the natural philosophy of delineating the natural order and relation of things. An examination of the early career of John Ray FRS (1627--1705) allowed me to assess the extent to which Ray both stood within an established tradition and was ultimately responsible for the definition of the culturally dominant tradition in Natural History during the 1690s. Ray maintained an extensive correspondence network, which was composed of independent gentlemen, clergy, medical professionals and Fellows of the Royal Society, which enabled him to play a leadership role in the transition to responsible natural history. Ray was an active Fellow of the Royal Society which sought to become the authoritative voice on matters of natural knowledge and orthodox philosophy, and to legitimate its corporate reputation by appeal to conservative and 'respectable' traditions. During the 1690s the rhetoric of Raian natural history also assumed a deliberate socio-political message in response to urgent concerns in society. This research shows how a community of natural historians organized themselves, defined their knowledge domain, achieved consensus on the nature of their enterprise and constructed a public identity. In sum, the object of my study is the disciplinary transformation of natural history. |
