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Click here for Past Meetings and Presidents
| The Devonshire
Association was founded in the great age of Victorian optimism when
so much was being discovered and explored for the first time. The
work of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
provided both the impetus and the model for the Devonshire
Association. In 1861, a Cornishman, William
Pengelly FRS, advocated the establishment of a local
association to be organised like the British Association but
focused on Devon. He had put the idea to two friends as they walked
along Millbay Road in Plymouth on a geological expedition in the
autumn of that year. This casual conversation resulted in the
formation of the Association and the holding of its first meeting
in Exeter in the following year. Membership was just 69. Our
Association, with its specialist recorders, mirrored that of the BA
and, from 1863 onwards, our annual volume of Reports and
Transactions has provided an outlet for a wide range of research on
Devon. Surprisingly, however, we are not the oldest of Devon's
learned societies. The Plymouth Institution was founded fifty years
earlier, in 1812, and the Devon and Exeter Institution was formed
in 1813. Pengelly himself had helped to found the Torquay Natural
History Society in 1844. But from the start, the Devonshire
Association has been different. Its aims have always been much
broader and more ambitious, and its geographical scope has been
greater. The DA covers the whole county and all areas of scholarly
enquiry. By 1877, membership had risen to 500, a figure that
remained fairly static for the ensuing sixty years. A major turning
point occurred in 1928 when a decision was taken to encourage the
establishment of local branches and subject sections. Apart from
the short-lived Archaeology Section, the Association's first
Section was that focused on Parochial History, and the oldest
Branch is that in Plymouth, which was formed in 1932. Other
branches and sections followed, but there was no significant rise
in membership until the 1940s. A concerted effort was made at that
time to boost interest in the Association and, as a result, the
membership rose dramatically from 442 in 1943 to 1,100 by 1952.
When the Association celebrated its centenary in 1962, membership
had reached a record 1,807... We continue to flourish as one of the most active and respected learned societies in Southwest England |
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A fuller account of the history of the association can be found in the following articles:
Miss Hilda H. Walker, 1962. The Story of the Devonshire Association, 1862-1962. Rep. Trans. Devon. Ass. Advmt Sci., 94, 42-110.
Simon Timms, 1987. Progress of the Devonshire Association, 1862-1987: 125 Not Out. Rep. Trans. Devon. Ass. Advmt Sci., 119, 17-33.
Salcombe from East Portlemouth ©
James Quinn
| Past Meetings and Presidents | ||
| 1862 | Exeter | Sir John Bowring, LLD, FRS |
| 1863 | Plymouth | C. Spence Bate, Esq., FLS, FRS |
| 1864 | Torquay | E. Vivian, Esq., MA |
| 1865 | Tiverton | C. G. D. Daubeny, Esq., MD, LLD, FRS |
| 1866 | Tavistock | The Rt Hon. the Earl Russell, KG, KGC, FRS |
| 1867 | Barnstaple | W. Pengelly, Esq., FGS, FRS |
| 1868 | Honiton | J. D. Coleridge, Esq., QC, MA, MP (afterwards the Rt Hon. Lord Coleridge, FRS, Lord Chief Justice) |
| 1869 | Dartmouth | G. P. Bidder, Esq. |
| 1870 | Devonport | J. A. Froude, Esq., MA |
| 1871 | Bideford | The Revd Canon C. Kingsley, MA, FIS, FGS |
| 1872 | Exeter | The Lord Bishop of Exeter (Dr F. Temple) (afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury) |
| 1873 | Sidmouth | The Rt Hon. S. Cave, MA, MP (afterwards Sir Stephen Cave) |
| 1874 | Teignmouth | The Rt Hon. the Earl of Devon |
| 1875 | Torrington | R. J. King, MA |
| 1876 | Ashburton | The Revd Treasurer J. M. Hawker, MA |
| 1877 | Kingsbridge | The Ven. H. Earle, MA (afterwards Bishop of Marlborough) |
| 1878 | Paignton | Sir Samuel White Baker, MA, FRGS, FRS |
| 1879 | Ilfracombe | The Rt Hon. Sir R. P. Collier, MA (afterwards Lord Monkswell) |
| 1880 | Totnes | H. W. Dyke Acland, Esq., MD, LLD, FRGS, FRS (afterwards Sir Henry Acland, Bt, KCB) |
| 1881 | Dawlish | The Revd Prof. C. Chapman, LLD |
| 1882 | Crediton | J. Brooking Rowe, Esq., FSA, FLS |
| 1883 | Exmouth | The Very Revd C. Merrivale, DD, DCL |
| 1884 | Newton Abbot | The Revd T. R. R. Stebbing, MA (afterwards FLS, FRS) |
| 1885 | Seaton | R. F. Weymouth, Esq., Dlit |
| 1886 | St Marychurch | Sir John B. Phear, MA, FGS, JP |
| 1887 | Plympton | The Revd W. H. Dallinger, LLD, FLS, FRS |
| 1888 | Exeter | The Very Revd B. Cowie, DD (Dean of Exeter) |
| 1889 | Tavistock | H. W. Hudleston, Esq., MA, FGS, FLS, FCS, FRS |
| 1890 | Barnstaple | The Rt Hon. the Lord Clinton, MA |
| 1891 | Tiverton | R. N. Worth, Esq., FGS |
| 1892 | Plymouth | A. H. A. Hamilton, Esq., MA, JP, CC |
| 1893 | Torquay | T. N. Brushfield, Esq., MD (afterwards FSA) |
| 1894 | South Molton | Sir Frederick Pollock, Bt, MA |
| 1895 | Okehampton | The Rt Hon. the Lord Halsbury, DCL (afterwards Earl of Halsbury) |
| 1896 | Ashburton | The Revd S. Baring-Gould, MA |
| 1897 | Kingsbridge | J. Hine, Esq., FRIBA |
| 1898 | Honiton | The Rt Hon. the Lord Coleridge, MA, QC (afterwards Justice of the King�s Bench) |
| 1899 | Torrington | The Revd Canon W. J. Edmonds, BD |
| 1900 | Totnes | The Rt Hon. the Lord Clifford, MA, JP |
| 1901 | Exeter | Sir Roger Lethbridge, KCIE, MA, DL, JP |
| 1902 | Bideford | The Revd W. Harpley, MA, FCPS |
| 1903 | Sidmouth | Sir Edgar Vincent, KCMG, MP (afterwards Viscount D�Abernon, PC, GCB, GCMG) |
| 1904 | Teignmouth | Sir Alfred W. Croft, KCIE, MA |
| 1905 | Princetown | Basil H. Thompson, Esq. (afterwards Sir Basil H. Thompson, KCB) |
| 1906 | Lynton | F. T. Elworthy, Esq., FSA |
| 1907 | Axminster | The Lord Bishop of Exeter (Dr A. Robertson) |
| 1908 | Newton Abbot | The Rt Hon. the Lord Monkswell, DL, LLB, JP |
| 1909 | Launceston | The Lord Bishop of Truro (Dr C. W. Stubbs) |
| 1910 | Cullompton | John D. Enys, Esq., FGS, JP |
| 1911 | Dartmouth | Robert Burnard, Esq., FSA, JP |
| 1912 | Exeter | The Rt Hon. the Viscount St Cyres, MA, JP |
| 1913 | Buckfastleigh | Ashley A. Froude, Esq., CMG, MA, JP |
| 1914 | Tavistock | Prof. A. M. Worthington, CB, FRS |
| 1915 | Exeter | A. W. Clayden, Esq., MA, FGS |
| 1916 | Plymouth | E. J. Allen, Esq., DSC, FRS (afterwards CBE) |
| 1917 | Barnstaple | W. P. Hiern, Esq. |
| 1918 | Torquay | H. R. Watkin, Esq. |
| 1919 | Tiverton | The Very Revd H. R. Gamble, DD (Dean of Exeter) |
| 1920 | Totnes | Edward Windeatt, Esq., JP |
| 1921 | Lyme Regis | Sir Oswyn A. R. Murray, KCB (afterwards GCB) |
| 1922 | Crediton | The Rt Hon. Sir Henry Duke, KC (afterwards Lord Merrivale) |
| 1923 | Salcombe | A. E. H. Tutton, Esq., DSC, FRS |
| 1924 | Ashburton | J. S. Amery, Esq., JP |
| 1925 | Okehampton | The Revd Prebendary (afterwards Treasurer) J. F. Chanter, MA, FSA |
| 1926 | Bideford | R. Pearse Chope, Esq., BA, JP |
| 1927 | Exmouth | W. C. Dampier-Whetham, Esq., MA, FRS (afterwards Sir William C. Dampier, ScD, FRS) |
| 1928 | Lynton | Lady Radford, FRHistS, JP |
| 1929 | Dartmouth | G. P. Bidder, Esq., ScD, FZS |
| 1930 | Princetown | R. Hansford Worth, Esq., MICE, FCS, FRMS |
| 1931 | Exeter | The Lord Bishop of Plymouth (Dr J. H. B. Masterman) |
| 1932 | Paignton | J. J. Alexander, Esq., MA, FRHistS, JP |
| 1933 | Ilfracombe | Prof. Sir Westcott Stile Abell, KBE, MEng, MINA, MICE |
| 1934 | Plymouth | Sir John C. Squire, MA, HonFRIBA |
| 1935 | Sidmouth | Prof. Sir John Satterly, ARCSc, MA, DSc, FRS (CAN) |
| 1936 | Torquay | The Rt Hon. the Lord Mamhead, DL, JP |
| 1937 | Tavistock | Prof. W. J. Harte, MA |
| 1938 | Barnstaple | G. T. Harris, Esq. |
| 1939 | Honiton | G. M. Doe, Esq., JP |
| 1940 | Exeter | C. W. Bracken, Esq., BA, FRES |
| 1941 | Exeter | Hugh Lloyd Parry, Esq., OBE, BA, BSc, LLB |
| 1942 | No Meeting | Mrs F. Rose-Troup, FRHistS |
| 1943 | Exeter | Col. Ransom Pickard, CB, CMG, MD, FRCS |
| 1944 | Exeter | The Ven. A. H. Thompson, MA |
| 1945 | Exeter | P. Morris, Esq., FRIBA, FSA |
| 1946 | Newton Abbot | R. Waterfield, Esq., BA |
| 1947 | Chagford | C. A. Ralegh Radford, Esq., MA, FRHistS, FSA (afterwards HonDLitt, FBA) |
| 1948 | Bideford | The Rt Hon. L. S. Amery, PC, CH |
| 1949 | Tavistock | B. W. Oliver, Esq., FRIBA |
| 1950 | Sidmouth | E. Emery Adams, Esq., DCM |
| 1951 | Brixham | Comdr (S.) A. W. B. Messenger, LRIBA, FSA, RN |
| 1952 | Tiverton | Mrs M. C. S. Cruwys, FSA |
| 1953 | Plymouth | F. S. (afterwards Sir Frederick) Russell, Esq., DSC, DFS, CBE, LLD, FRS |
| 1954 | Seaton | St John Ervine, Esq. |
| 1955 | Crediton | Miss Ursula Radford, FSA |
| 1956 | Lynton | The Rt Hon. the Earl Fortescue, KG, CB, OBE, MC |
| 1957 | Exeter | The Revd S. C. Carpenter, DD |
| 1958 | Kingsbridge | Miss Mary Coate, MA, FSA, FRHistS |
| 1959 | Ashburton | L. K. Elmhirst, Esq., MA, HonDrPolSci |
| 1960 | South Molton | The Rt Hon. the Earl of Halsbury, FRIC, FInstP |
| 1961 | Ilfracombe | J. W. (afterwards Sir James) Cook, Esq., DSC, ScD, PhD, FRIC, FRS |
| 1962 | Exeter | The Lord Bishop of Exeter (the Rt Rev. R. C. Mortimer, DD) |
| 1963 | Budleigh | Dom. J. St�phan, OSB, FRHistS, FAMS (afterwards FSA) |
| 1964 | Cullompton | The Rt Hon. the Viscount Amory, GCMG |
| 1965 | Totnes | Norman Capener, Esq., FRCS (afterwards CBE) |
| 1966 | Okehampton | H. G. Hurrell, Esq., JP, MA (afterwards MBE) |
| 1967 | Great Torrington | The Bishop of Crediton (The Rt Revd W. A. E. Westall) |
| 1968 | Paignton | A. P. G. Michelmore, Esq., MA (afterwards MBE) |
| 1969 | Dawlish | Prof. J. Caldwell, DSC, PhD (afterwards OBE) |
| 1970 | Honiton | A. Stuart Hibberd, Esq., MBE, MA |
| 1971 | Barnstaple | Prof. G. Wilson Knight, CBE, DLit |
| 1972 | Dartmouth | Hon. Margaret Lambert, CMG, PhD |
| 1973 | Plymouth | The Rt Hon. the Lord Foot |
| 1974 | Tiverton | Sir Richard Acland, Bt |
| 1975 | Sidmouth | Sir Charles Cave, Bt |
| 1976 | Bideford | Sir Denis Stucley, Bt, JP, DL |
| 1977 | Ashburton | Col. the Rt Hon. the Lord Clifford, OBE, DL |
| 1978 | Tavistock | Prof. W. G. Hoskins, CBE, FBA, MA, HonDLitt, FRIBA |
| 1979 | Salcombe | G. M. Spooner, Esq., MBE, MA, FRES |
| 1980 | Exmouth | Sir Eric Smith, CBE, FRS, ScD |
| 1981 | Ilfracombe | Prof. Frank Barlow, MA, DPhil, HonDLitt, FBA, FRSL (afterwards CBE) |
| 1982 | Moretonhampstead | Ian Mercer, Esq., BA (afterwards Prof., CBE, HonLLD, DSc, FLI) |
| 1983 | Teignmouth | R. Crispin Gill, Esq., OBE, FRGS (afterwards HonMA, FSA) |
| 1984 | Hatherleigh | Dr Basil Greenhill, CB, CMG, PhD, FSA, FRHistS (afterwards HonDLitt) |
| 1985 | Ottery St Mary | The Rev. Amos S. Cresswell, MA |
| 1986 | Buckfastleigh | The Rt Rev. Leo Smith, PhD |
| 1987 | Exeter | Brendan Moore, Esq., MD, BSc, FRCPath |
| 1988 | Plymouth | Lt-Col. the Rt Hon. the Earl of Morley, JP |
| 1989 | Barnstaple | Prof. Joyce A. Youings, BA, PhD, FRHistS |
| 1990 | Tiverton | F. J. M. Laver, Esq., CBE, HonDSc |
| 1991 | Dartmouth | Miss M. E. Lorenz, BA |
| 1992 | Okehampton | Sir John Quicke, CBE, DL, HonDSc |
| 1993 | Sidmouth | Sir Jack Boles, MBE, DL |
| 1994 | Torquay | R. C. Scrivener, Esq., BSc, PhD |
| 1995 | Bideford | The Rt Hon. the Lord Clinton |
| 1996 | Tavistock | G. T. Boalch, BSc, PhD, CBiol, FIBiol, FLS |
| 1997 | Crediton | Sir Hugh Stucley, Bt |
| 1998 | Exmouth | J. Bosanko, Esq., BA, FSA |
| 1999 | Great Torrington | The Lady Margaret Fortescue |
| 2000 | Exeter | The Rt Revd Richard Hawkins (Bishop of Crediton) |
| 2001 | Totnes | His Grace the Duke of Somerset |
| 2002 | Plymouth | Barrie Williams, Esq. |
| 2003 | Chagford | HM Lord Lieutenant of Devon (Eric Dancer, CBE, KStJ, JP) |
| 2004 | South Molton | Prof. Ivan Roots, MA, FSA, FRHistS |
| 2005 | Seaton | Prof. Malcolm Hart, BSc, PhD, DSc, ARCS, DIC, FGS, CGeol, CSci |
| 2006 | Salcombe | Mr Anthony Gibson, Esq., OBE, MA, Hon. MSc, ARAgS |
| 2007 | Ilfracombe | Justin Leigh, Esq. |
| 2008 | Bovey Tracey | Anthony Beard, Esq. |
| 2009 | Dulverton | Rachel Thomas, CBE, DL, BA, DrSc.h.c., FRGS |
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Registered Charity Number
252468
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