The Rankenian Club facts for kids
The Rankenian Club was a group of smart people in Scotland who met in the 1700s. It started around 1716 and stopped meeting sometime after 1760.
This club was seen as the most important of many similar groups during the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a time when many new and exciting ideas in science, philosophy, and art came from Scotland.
In 1771, a magazine called Scots Magazine said that the Rankenian Club helped spread important ideas across Scotland. These ideas included thinking freely, discussing things bravely, being open-minded, reasoning carefully, having good taste, and writing well.
What Was the Rankenian Club?
The Rankenian Club was a place where thinkers could meet. They would talk about new ideas and share their knowledge. It was like a very serious and important study group for adults.
Who Were the Members?
Many members of the Rankenian Club became very famous. They helped shape the Scottish Enlightenment. Here are some of the key members:
- Charles Mackie (1688–1770): He later became the first history professor at the University of Edinburgh.
- John Stevenson (1695–1775): He taught logic and how to speak well.
- George Turnbull (1698–1748): He was a theologian (someone who studies religion) and a professor of moral philosophy at Marischal College.
- Robert Wallace (1697–1771): He was also a theologian and studied how populations grow.
- William Wishart (1691–1753): He was a leading church minister and the head of the University of Edinburgh.
- Colin MacLaurin (1698–1746): He was a philosopher and the best Scottish mathematician of his time.
- George Young (1692–1757): He was a surgeon and a philosopher. He was the only surgeon known to be part of this club.
