Michael Hunter

The Miraculous Conformist

The story of Valentine Greatrakes, whose "miraculous" healing powers wowed restoration Britain.

Sir Hugh Plat

Michael Hunter reviews a book on early modern London by Malcolm Thick.

The Great Experiment: The Royal Society

The Royal Society was founded in 1660 to promote scientific research. Through a process of trial and error, this completely new kind of institution slowly discovered how its ambitions might be achieved – often in ways unforeseen by its founders, writes Michael Hunter.

Genius Eclipsed: The Fate of Robert Boyle

The natural philosopher and scientist Robert Boyle was revered in his time for his pioneering enquiry into a wide range of natural phenomena.Yet within half a century of his death he was almost forgotten, overshadowed by his contemporary Isaac Newton. Michael Hunter explains why.

Hooke’s Book

Michael Hunter, an authority on the natural philosopher Robert Hooke, describes his excitement at the recent discovery of an unknown manuscript in Hooke’s hand. He explains its significance and why every effort should be made to keep it in Britain.

The Fellowship

Michael Hunter on a book exploring the Newtonian Revolution

The Social Circulation of the Past

Gettysburg

Roy Porter

Michael Hunter reflects on the life of the late Roy Porter.

The Discovery of Second Sight in Late 17th-Century Scotland

Michael Hunter tells how a mysterious phenomenon in the Highlands sparked a debate between scientific virtuosi and urban sceptics, in an episode that helps shed light on the vexed issue of ‘the decline of magic’.