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The Danzig Research Society (Latin: Societas Physicae Experimentalis, German: Naturforschende Gesellschaft, Polish Gdańskie Towarzystwo Przyrodnicze) was founded in 1743 in the city of Danzig (Gdańsk), in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Experimental Physics Society (Societas Physicae Experimentalis), later renamed Natural Scientific Society (Naturforschende Gesellschaft) was one of the oldest research societies in Central and Eastern Europe. Society was founded by Daniel Gralath (1708-1767), who studied law and philosophy in Halle, then in Leyden and Marburg. The first organizing meeting took place on 7 November 1742, the first scientific meeting was called on 2 January 1743. The aim of the Society was to practice and popularize science, among others through weekly public demonstrations of the most interesting experiments in physics. Since 1746 these took place in the Great Hall of the Green Gate.

In 1845 the society was located in a Renaissance-era building at the Motława, an arm of the Vistula River. In 1840 Alexander von Humboldt accompanied Prussian King Frederick William IV on the way to Königsberg (Kaliningrad), and Humboldt received an honorary membership in the Society. Later, the society offered Humboldt stipends. The collections of the Society were displayed in the West-Prussian Provincial Museum located at the Green Gate.

After 200 years of existence, the society ceased to exist when German burghers of the Free City of Danzig had to leave. Also, its building and many priceless valuables was destroyed during the Soviet offensive in 1945, two years after the 200th anniversary. After the war the building at the Motława river was rebuilt and houses an Archeological Museum today.

References

• Template:En icon Andrzej Januszajtis, Scientists in Old Gdansk
• List of publications by Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Danzig
• E. Schumann, History of the Research Society in Danzig 1743–1892 (Geschichte der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Danzig 1743–1892)

• History of Gdańsk
• Polish scientific societies
• Polish regional societies