A stormy weather

In late February 2020, we partnered with the Met Office Library and Archives to unveil an exhibition at Carlton House Terrace entitled Stormy Weather: from lore to science. The display showcased material from both historical collections to trace the evolution of the science of weather and climate in Britain. The exhibition was the culmination of discussions with the Met Office archivist, Dr Catherine Ross, about the deep connections running between our collections. For instance, the creation in 1854 of an office at the Board of Trade in charge of forecasting marine weather was discussed throughout the Royal Society. Robert FitzRoy, its first chief, was a Fellow himself and came with the recommendation of the Society’s then President, the astronomer Lord Wrottesley. Since then, many notable Met Office scientists have been elected to our Fellowship.