Metropolitan Science

Rebekah Higgitt and Jasmine Kilburn-Toppin with Noah Moxham

Exploring distinctive practices in the artisanal, mercantile, and governmental sites of London, Metropolitan Science offers a new perspective on the development of a scientific culture between the years 1600-1800.Beginning with the demographics of London in the 17th and 18th centuries, including its attraction of migrants, importance as a centre of empire, and the role of its institutions in government, the authors analyse how and why London was a unique site of scientific activity. Through the use of case studies, such as the Tower of London's Royal Mint, and the Livery Company Halls, this book examines the city's sites of exchange for knowledge and practice, and highlights the importance of both public and private spaces.With exploration of London's military and colonial history, the authors acknowledge how its port and maritime trade were not only central to growth and protection, but also facilitated the organisation, assessment, valuation, and pursuit of knowledge in the city. Ultimately, this book demonstrates that London corporations produced unique knowledge communities that drew on networks across the city and beyond, and uses a variety of spatial and material approaches to reveal the use, representation, and exchange of practice in these collective settings.

Provides a detailed overview of methods of knowledge exchange in London, to reveal how the city developed its own scientific culture in the years 1600-1800

Introduction1. Sites of Exchange and Objects of Knowledge in Early Modern London2. The Tower of London and the Royal Mint: Technical Knowledge, Experiment and Secrecy3. The Ordnance Office at the Tower and Woolwich: Trial, Manufacture and Mathematics4. Livery Company Halls: Production and Regulation5. The Trinity House on Water Lane: Experience and Expertise6. East India House: Enterprise and AuthorityConclusionIndex