Martin Folkes

Martin Folkes

Martin Folkes (1690-1754) was a British antiquary, mathematician, and president of the Royal Society. He was born in Westminster and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. Folkes was a prominent figure in the scientific community during the 18th century and was known for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and numismatics. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1714 and served as its president from 1741 until his death in 1754. Folkes was a keen collector of coins and medals, and his collection was one of the most extensive and valuable of its time. He wrote several works on numismatics, including Tables of English Silver and Gold Coins and A Table of English Gold Coins. Folkes was also interested in astronomy and was a member of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. He was involved in the observation of the transit of Venus in 1761 and 1769, which was an important event in the history of astronomy. Aside from his scientific pursuits, Folkes was also a patron of the arts and a collector of paintings. He was a friend of the artist William Hogarth and was a member of the Society of Dilettanti, a group of British aristocrats and scholars who were interested in classical art and culture. Folkes was also a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and served as its president from 1749 until his death. In summary, Martin Folkes was a prominent figure in the scientific and artistic communities of 18th century Britain. He made significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and numismatics, and was a patron of the arts and a collector of paintings. His legacy continues to be felt in these fields today.

Martin Folkes, antiquary, mathematician, president of the Royal Society, numismatics, astronomy, patron of the arts, collector of paintings

— John Taylor

CITATION : "John Taylor. 'Martin Folkes.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/martin-folkes?E=380303 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"