Royal Asiatic Society

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar, Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1735–1867), on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 ‘for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia’.

Founding of the Society
Colebrooke previously had served as President of the Asiatick Society of Bengal, a learned society founded in 1784 by the philologist and jurist Sir William Jones (1746–94). Upon his return to London, Colebrooke wished to create a similar society that not only focused on India but the whole of Asia. The Society’s iconic seal was designed by the artists Thomas Daniell (1749–1840) and William Daniell (1769–1837), known for their picturesque views of India, both of whom were founding members of the Society. The original drawing of the seal depicts a richly caparisoned elephant carrying a howdah symbolising our enduring connection with Asia.

Foster a deeper understanding of Asia
Throughout its early history, the Society encouraged the study of the history, scientific knowledge, languages, and religions of Asia through lectures and publications. The Society published its first volume of Transactions in 1827, a journal that included articles on all aspects of Asia. This was superseded by the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1834 which continues to be published today in conjunction with Cambridge University Press. The establishment of special funds such as the Oriental Translation Fund permitted the Society to publish translations of valuable works on Asian history and literature. Notable publications include Autobiographical Memoirs of the Moghul Emperor Timur (1830) translated by Charles Stewart, Ram Raz’s Essay on the Architecture of the Hindus (1834) and History of the Afghans (1836) by Ni'mat Allah and translated by Bernhard Dorn.