Photo: CPS Royal Charter granted on the 6th of August 1832 by King William the Fourth

THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY was established 15 November 1819, for the purpose of promoting scientific inquiry, and of facilitating the communication of facts connected with the advancement of Philosophy and Natural History; and became a Body Corporate by virtue of a ROYAL CHARTER granted on the 6th of August 1832 by His late Majesty King WILLIAM the Fourth. The Charter was formally accepted by the Society at a General Meeting held on the 6th November 1832.

Fewer than 1,000 Royal Charters have been granted since the Norman Conquest. Today, new Charters are rarely issued and are normally reserved for bodies that work in the public interest (such as professional institutions and charities) and which can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their particular field.

The phrase at the end of the Charter "By Writ of the Privy Seal, Brougham" is a formal, historical legal endorsement used on British letters patent and royal charters during the chancellorship of Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux. He served as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain from 1830 to 1834. 

The original copy of our Charter from 1832 is held in the Society Archive.

Transcript:

WILLIAM THE FOURTH,

By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith; TO all to whom these Presents shall come greeting.:

Whereas ADAM SEDGWICK, Clerk, Master of Arts, Fellow of Trinity College and Woodwardian Professor in the University of Cambridge, has by his petition humbly represented unto us, That he together with others of Our loyal subjects, Graduates of the said University, did in the year One thousand Eight hundred and nineteen form themselves into a Society for the promotion of Philosophy and Natural History, and have subscribed and collected considerable sums of money for such purposes, and have also collected and become possessed of a valuable Library and various Collections in Natural History, and other property to a considerable amount, and have also been and continue to be actively employed in the promotion of Philosophical and Natural Knowledge among the Graduates of the said University, by offering encouragements for Original Re-search, and especially by the publication of Volumes of Transactions composed of Original Memoirs read before the Society; And whereas the said Petitioner, believing that the well being and usefulness of the said Society would be most materially promoted by obtaining a Charter of Incorporation, hath therefore, on behalf of himself and other Fellows of the said Society, most humbly prayed that We would be pleased to grant a Royal Charter for incorporating into a Society the several persons who have already become Fellows, or who may at any time hereafter become Fellows thereof; subject to such Regulations and Restrictions as to Us may seem good and expedient: Know Ye that We being desirous of encouraging a design so laudable, have of Our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, Willed, granted and ordained, and do by these Presents, for Us Our Heirs and Successors will, grant and ordain, That the said Adam Sedgwick, Clerk, and such others of Our loving subjects as have formed themselves into and are now Fellows of the said Society, or who shall at any time hereafter become Fellows thereof according to such Bye Laws as shall hereafter be framed or enacted, shall by virtue of these Presents be one Body Politic and Corporate by the Name and Style of THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, by which name and style they shall have perpetual Succession, and a Common Seal, with full power to alter, vary, break and renew the same at their discretion; and by the same name and style to sue and be sued, to implead and be impleaded, to answer and be answered unto, in every Court of Us Our Heirs and Successors, and be for ever capable in the law to purchase, receive, hold, possess and enjoy to them and their successors any goods and chattels whatsoever; and also be able and capable in the law (notwithstanding the statutes of Mortmain) to take, purchase, possess, hold and enjoy to them and their successors a Hall or College, and any messuages, lands, tenements or hereditaments whatsoever, the yearly value of which (including the said Hall or College) shall not exceed in the whole the Sum of Two thousand Pounds, computing the same respectively at the rack rent which might have been had or gotten for the same respectively at the time of the purchase or acquisition thereof; and to act and do in all things relating to the said Body Politic and Corporate as fully and effectually, to all intents, effects, constructions and purposes whatsoever as any other of Our liege subjects, or any other body politic or corporate in Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (not being under any disability) might or could act or do in their respective concerns: And We do hereby grant Our especial Licence and Authority unto all and every person and persons, bodies politic and corporate, (otherwise competent) to grant, sell, alien and convey in Mortmain unto and to the use of the said Society and their successors any messages, lands, tenements or hereditaments, not exceeding such annual value as foresaid.

And Our Will and Pleasure is, and We further grant and declare, That there shall be a general Meeting of Fellows of the said Body Politic and Corporate to be held from time to time as hereinafter mentioned, and that there shall always be a Council to direct and manage the concerns of the said Body Politic and Corporate.

And Our Will and Pleasure is, that Our most dearly beloved Cousin WILLIAM FREDERICK Duke of Gloucester, Chancellor of the said University, shall be the Patron; and Our most dearly beloved Brother AUGUSTUS FREDERICK Duke of Sussex, Our right trusty and right well beloved Cousin and Councillor PHILIP Earl of Hardwicke the High Steward of the said University, and the VICE-

CHANCELLOR of the said University, shall be the Vice-Patrons of the said Body Politic and Corporate.

And We do hereby will, grant and declare, That the Council shall consist of a President, three Vice-Presidents, one Treasurer, not more than three Secretaries, and not more than twelve or less than seven other Fellows, to be elected out of the Fellows of the said Body Politic and Corporate; and that the first Members of the Council shall be elected within six Calendar Months after the date of this Our Charter, and that the said ADAM SEDGWICK shall be the first President of the said Body Politic and Corporate, and shall continue such until the Election as aforesaid.

And We do hereby further will, grant and declare, That it shall be lawful for the Fellows of the said Body Politic and Corporate hereby established to hold General Meetings once in the year or oftener for the purposes hereinafter mentioned; viz. That the General Meetings shall choose a President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Secretaries and other Members of the Council: That the General Meetings shall make and establish such Bye Laws as they shall deem to be useful and necessary for the regulation of the said Body Politic and Corporate, for fixing the days on which the Ordinary Meetings of the Society shall be held, for determining the mode in which Fellows and Honorary Members shall be elected, admitted or expelled, for the management of the estates, goods and affairs of the said Body Politic and Corporate, and for fixing and determining the manner of electing the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Secretaries and other Members of the Council, and the period of their continuance in office; And We do further declare, that it shall be lawful at the General Meetings of the said Body Politic and Corporate to alter or revoke former Bye Laws and to make such new Bye Laws as they think useful and expedient: But it is Our Will and Pleasure, that no Fellow who has filled the office of President for two successive years shall be again eligible to the same situation until the expiration of one year from the termination of his office.

And Our Will and Pleasure is, That no such General Meetings as aforesaid shall, without the consent of Council of the said Society or Body Politic, have the power of altering or repealing any existing Bye Law, or of making any new one, unless the Fellow or Fellows of the said Society or Body Politic who shall be desirous of so altering or repealing any existing Bye Law, or of making any new one, shall have given to the Council of the said Society or Body Politic one month's previous notice of such his or their intention.

And We further will, grant and declare, That the Council shall (but not inconsistently with or contrary to the provision of this Our Charter, or any existing Bye Law or the Laws and Statutes of this Our Realm, or the Statutes of the University of Cambridge,) have the sole management of the Income and Funds of the said Body Politic and Corporate, and also the entire management and superintendance of all the other affairs and concerns thereof, and shall or may do all such acts and deeds as shall appear to them necessary or essential to be done for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects and views of the said Body Politic and Corporate.

And We further will, grant and declare, That the whole Property of the said Body Politic and Corporate shall be vested, and We do hereby vest the same, solely and absolutely in the Fellows thereof, and that they shall have full power and authority to sell, alienate, charge or otherwise dispose of the same as they shall think proper; but that no Sale, Mortgage, Incumbrance or other disposition of any messages, lands, tenements or hereditaments belonging to the said Body Politic or Corporate shall be made except with the approbation and concurrence of a General Meeting.

And We lastly declare it to be Our Royal Will and Pleasure, That no Resolution or Bye Law shall on any account or pretence whatsoever be made by the said Body Politic and Corporate in opposition to the general scope, true intent and meaning of this Our Charter, or the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, or the Statutes of the University of Cambridge; and that if any such Resolution or Bye Law shall be made, the same shall be absolutely null and void to all intents, effects, constructions and purposes whatsoever.

In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.

Witness Ourself at Our Place at Westminster this Sixth day of August, in the Third year of Our Reign.

By Writ of the Privy Seal, Brougham