The Linnean Society of London, founded by James Edward Smith in 1788, is the world’s oldest learned society devoted to the biological sciences. It was created as a forum for scientific discussion, and as a home for the magnificent book, manuscript, and specimen collections of the Swedish naturalist and “father of taxonomy”, Carl Linnaeus. It has fulfilled both of these functions for over 230 years.

Join the Society's Librarian, Will Beharrell, on a virtual tour through the Society’s premises at Burlington House, in central London, with an opportunity for questions and discussion. This event is not being recorded.

Learn more about the Linnean Society: https://www.linnean.org/

About our speaker

Will Beharrell is the Librarian of the Linnean Society of London, a learned society devoted to the life sciences, and the world’s oldest active biological society. He has nearly a decade’s experience in specialist and rare books collections, having worked for Magdalen College, All Souls College, Merton College, The Bodleian Libraries, and the English Faculty Library in Oxford. He currently manages the Linnean Society’s library service, and facilitates use of its collections for research, public engagement, and education. Since June 2019 he has acted as administrator for the Linnaeus Link project, an international effort to create a union catalogue of material by and about the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, in collaboration with partner institutions around the world.