Gresham College - Professors

Professors

The seven original Gresham College Professorships that date back to the origins of the college are as follows:

• Astronomy
• Divinity
• Mathematics
• Law
• Music
• Medicine
• Rhetoric

These original endowed chairs reflect the curriculum of the medieval university (the trivium and quadrivium); but as a place for the public and frequent voicing of new ideas, the college played an important role in the Enlightenment and in the formation of the Royal Society. Early famous Gresham College professors have included Christopher Wren, who lectured on astronomy in the 17th century, and Robert Hooke, who was Professor of Geometry from 1665 until 1704.

The professors received £50 a year, and the terms of their position were very precise, for example:

The geometrician is to read as followeth, every Trinity term arithmetique, in Michaelmas and Hilary terms theoretical geometry, in Easter term practical geometry. The astronomy reader is to read in his solemn lectures, first the principles of the sphere, and the theory of the planets, and the use of the astrolabe and the staff, and other common instruments for the capacity of mariners.

Today, the professors hold their positions for three years, and give six lectures a year. There are regular visiting professors appointed to give series of lectures at the college and an eighth full chair, of Commerce, joined the original seven in 1985.