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Questions about Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did the Royal Society begin publishing obituaries of its members?

The Royal Society began publishing obituaries of its members in 1932. Before that year, these notices appeared within the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

What was the original name of the Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society journal before 1955?

The new journal took the name Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society upon its launch in 1932. Editors renamed it Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society in 1955 and reset the volume numbering back to one.

Who is the current Editor-in-Chief for the Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society?

Malcolm Longair serves as the current Editor-in-Chief for this annual publication. He succeeded Trevor Stuart in the year 2016.

Which famous scientists have received full biographies in the Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society?

Albert Einstein received a full biography within these pages after his passing. Alan Turing appears among the distinguished list of subjects honored here alongside Erwin Schrödinger, Bertrand Russell, Claude Shannon, Ernst Mayr, and Clement Attlee.

How many memoirs does Malcolm Longair and his team collate each year for the Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society?

Each year, Longair and his team collate approximately 40 to 50 memoirs about deceased Fellows. These texts often come from scientists of the next generation who knew the subject well or are former students of the deceased Fellow.