Editing Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

{{Short description|British-Irish Asian learned society specializing in Asia}}
{{distinguish|The Asiatic Society}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
|image = Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland logo.png
|size = 
|caption = 
|map = 
|msize = 
|mcaption = 
|motto = 
|formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1823|3|15}}
|extinction = 
|type = UK registered charity
|status =
|founder = [[Henry Thomas Colebrooke]]
|headquarters = 14 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HD, [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]
|location = Worldwide
|membership =
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = Professor [[Sarah Ansari]]
|num_staff = 
|budget = 
|website = {{URL|royalasiaticsociety.org}}
}}
'''The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland''', commonly known as the '''Royal Asiatic Society''', was established, according to its [[royal charter]] of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia."  From its incorporation the society has been a forum, through lectures, its journal, and other publications, for scholarship relating to [[Asian culture]] and society of the highest level.  It is the [[United Kingdom]]'s senior [[learned society]] in the field of [[Asian studies]]. [[fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|Fellows of the society]] are elected regularly and include highly accomplished and notable scholars of Asian studies; they use the [[post-nominal letters]] ''FRAS''.<ref name="Abbreviations 1998, p. 175">The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations, 2nd edition, Market House Books Ltd and Oxford University Press, 1998, ed. Judy Pearsall, Sara Tulloch et al., p. 175</ref><ref name="Debrett 2011, p. 26">Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2011, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, p. 26</ref><ref name="The International Who 2002">The International Who's Who of Women 2002, 3rd edition, ed. Elizabeth Sleeman, Europa Publications, p. xi</ref><ref name="Who 1973, p. 423">Who's Who in Malaysia and Singapore, John Victor Morais, 1973, p. 423</ref>

The Society celebrated its Bicentenary on 15 March 2023. A number of special events are planned for the following 12 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/celebrating-200-years-at-the-ras/|title=Bicentenary Special Events |website=royalasiaticsociety.org |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

==History==
The society was founded at London in 1823, with the first general meeting being held on 15 March at the Thatched House on [[St James's Street]], London, chaired by [[Henry Thomas Colebrooke]]. This meeting elected the officers (including [[Charles Williams-Wynn (1775–1850)|Charles Williams-Wynn]] as the first president) and council, defined that the name of the society was the Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and that members should be designated Members of the Asiatic Society (MAS). It also empowered the council to frame regulations (these were approved at the next general meeting on 19 April), to look for a suitable site for the society's meetings, and to seek a charter of incorporation. Later that year, at a general meeting held on 7 June, Williams-Wynn announced that [[George IV of the United Kingdom|King George IV]], who had already agreed to be patron of the society, had granted the title of "Royal" to the society, giving it the name of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and its members the designation Members of the Royal Asiatic Society (MRAS). The society received its charter under that name on 11 August 1824.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|title=Report of the Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, at Its First General Meeting, on the 15th of March, 1823|author=G. H. Noehden|volume=1|date=1824|issue=1|pages=vii–x|jstor=25581688}}</ref>

The Royal Asiatic Society was established by a group primarily composed of notable scholars and colonial administrators. It was intended to be the British counterpart to the [[Asiatic Society of Calcutta]], which had been founded in 1784 by the noted [[Sanskrit]] scholar and jurist [[William Jones (philologist)|Sir William Jones]]. A leading figure in the foundation of the Royal Asiatic Society was [[Henry Thomas Colebrooke]], who was himself an important Sanskrit scholar, and one time President of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Colebrooke, Henry Thomas (DNB00)|last= Lane-Poole|first=Stanley|volume=11}}</ref> Another was [[Sir George Staunton, 2nd Baronet]], a Chinese-speaking diplomat who had worked in China.

When the [[Oriental Club]] of London was formed in 1824, membership of the Royal Asiatic Society was stated as one of the four qualifications for membership of the new club.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=3FrL8wZuz40C&pg=PA473 The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany for April 1824, p. 473] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726132711/https://books.google.com/books?id=3FrL8wZuz40C&pg=PA473 |date=26 July 2017 }} online at books.google.com (accessed 28 January 2008)</ref>

Due to the nature of the society's close connection with the [[British Empire]] in the east, much of the work originating with the society has been focused on topics concerning the [[Indian subcontinent]]. However, the purview of the Society extends far beyond India: all of [[Asia]] and into [[Islam]]ic [[North Africa]], and [[Ethiopia]] are included. The Society does have a few limitations on its field on interest, such as recent political history and current affairs. This particular moratorium led to the founding of the Central Asian Society, which later became the [[Royal Society for Asian Affairs]]. After [[World War II]], with the gradual end of British political hegemony 'east of [[Suez]]', the Society maintained its disinterested academic focus on Asia.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Lectures<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/lectures-events/ |title=Lectures & Events |website=Royal Asiatic Society |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> are regularly held at the offices of the Society. There is no charge for regular lectures. Many past lectures are available to listen to<ref>{{cite web|url=http://backdoorbroadcasting.net/?s=royal+asiatic+society |title=Royal Asiatic Society |website=Backdoor Broadcasting Company |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> or watch<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXi0hS5mxNzy7icPV485FfQ |title=Royal Asiatic Society Of Great Britain and Ireland Channel |website=YouTube |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> online.

==Members and fellows==
Originally, members of the Society were styled Members (MRAS), Honorary Members (Hon. MRAS), Corresponding Members (CMRAS) and Foreign Members (FMRAS).<ref>{{cite book| work=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QOdJAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR21| title=Regulations for the Royal Asiatic Society| page=xxi| volume=1| date=1834| last1=Ireland| first1=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and| access-date=14 August 2018| archive-date=28 February 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228180834/https://books.google.com/books?id=QOdJAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR21| url-status=live}}</ref> By the 1870s, the [[post-nominal letters]] ''FRAS'', indicating fellowship of the Society, were being used by some members, including the physician and writer on India [[John Forbes Watson]],<ref>{{cite book|work=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|series=New Series|volume=VII|issue=I|chapter=List of the Members of the Royal Asiatic Society|publisher=Trübner & Co.|date=1875|page=56|title=Advertisement List for the Royal Asiatic Society's Journal|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKFaMmpKgbwC&pg=PA56|access-date=6 April 2019|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228180832/https://books.google.com/books?id=WKFaMmpKgbwC&pg=PA56|url-status=live}}</ref> and the writer on India and co-founder of the India Reform Society [[John Dickinson (writer)|John Dickinson]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|series=New Series|volume=IV|date=1870|page=9|title=Advertisement List for the Royal Asiatic Society's Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YPkAAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9|access-date=6 April 2019|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228180826/https://books.google.com/books?id=YPkAAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9|url-status=live}}</ref> This usage continued through the twentieth century,<ref>Journal and Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. 16, Asiatic Society, 1921, pp. x, 40, 164</ref><ref>The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, New Series, Vol. 5, Part 1, 1957, p. 141</ref> advertisements in the Society's ''Journal'' also reflecting the use of the letters ''FRAS'' by some members,<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|series=Second Series|volume=51|issue=3|date=July 1919|pages=427–429|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-asiatic-society/article/astronomical-observatories-of-jai-singh-by-g-r-kaye-fras-published-by-the-calcutta-superintendent-printing-india-1918-price-rs-1412-or-23s/39E34121A6168E452F6FEADCD9BBD2D9|title=The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh. By G. R. Kaye, F.R.A.S. Published by the Calcutta Superintendent Printing, India, 1918. Price Rs. 14·12 or 23s.|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420005231/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-asiatic-society/article/astronomical-observatories-of-jai-singh-by-g-r-kaye-fras-published-by-the-calcutta-superintendent-printing-india-1918-price-rs-1412-or-23s/39E34121A6168E452F6FEADCD9BBD2D9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|series=Second Series|volume=92|issue=1–2|date=April 1960|pages=82|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-asiatic-society/article/chinese-secret-societies-in-malaya-a-survey-of-the-triad-society-from-1800-to-1900-by-leon-comber-ba-fras-pp-viii-324-map-published-for-the-association-for-asian-studies-by-j-j-augustin-locust-valley-new-york-1959-650/E679C002FB4744DAFD0F2E1DB1B2ACCB|title=Chinese Secret Societies in Malaya. A Survey of the Triad Society from 1800 to 1900. By Leon Comber B.A., F.R.A.S. pp. viii + 324, Map. Published for the Association for Asian Studies by J. J. Augustin, Locust Valley, New York, 1959. $6.50.|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413143937/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-royal-asiatic-society/article/chinese-secret-societies-in-malaya-a-survey-of-the-triad-society-from-1800-to-1900-by-leon-comber-ba-fras-pp-viii-324-map-published-for-the-association-for-asian-studies-by-j-j-augustin-locust-valley-new-york-1959-650/E679C002FB4744DAFD0F2E1DB1B2ACCB|url-status=live}}</ref> although all members of the Society were referred to as "members" in the 1908 constitution,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Charter and Rules of the Royal Asiatic Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omkyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1|date=26 May 1908|last1=Ireland|first1=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228180831/https://books.google.com/books?id=omkyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref> and it was not until 1967 that reports of the Anniversary Meeting referred to "fellows" rather than "members".<ref>{{cite journal|title=Anniversary Meeting|journal=The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|issue=3/4|date=October 1967|pages= 183–185|jstor = 25203014}}</ref> {{as of |2019}}, members are designated "fellows" or "student fellows"; no post-nominals are assigned by the Society to these grades in its regulations, but the use of the post-nominal letters ''FRAS'' is recognized in numerous reference works.<ref name="Abbreviations 1998, p. 175"/><ref name="Debrett 2011, p. 26"/><ref name="The International Who 2002"/><ref name="Who 1973, p. 423"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/about-us/charter-byelaws-and-standing-orders/|title=Charter, Byelaws and Standing Orders|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103547/https://royalasiaticsociety.org/about-us/charter-byelaws-and-standing-orders/|url-status=live}}</ref> The post-nominal letters are used by some academics working in Asia-related fields,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.ac.uk/syllabus/school/members|title=Members of the School of History|publisher=Institute of Historical Research|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090714/https://www.history.ac.uk/syllabus/school/members|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bips.ac.uk/about/council|title=The Governing Council|publisher=British Institute of Persian Studies|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327113520/https://www.bips.ac.uk/about/council/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and have been used in the Society's ''Journal'' in reference to the Indologist Dr [[Michael D. Willis]],<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/D8226AE8CFB624D6AAD3066D64625010/S1356186312000090a.pdf/editors_foreword.pdf |doi=10.1017/S1356186312000090 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420005228/https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/D8226AE8CFB624D6AAD3066D64625010/S1356186312000090a.pdf/editors_foreword.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2019|title=Editor's Foreword |year=2012 |last1=Ansari |first1=Sarah |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland |volume=22 |page=1 |s2cid=232349344 }}</ref> to the poet and translator of [[Bengali language|Bengali]] Dr [[William Radice]] and to the Islamic scholar [[Leonard Lewisohn (Islamic scholar)|Leonard Lewisohn]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society |series=Third Series|volume= 10|issue= 3 |date=November 2000| pages= 445–450|jstor=25188074|title=Anniversary Meeting|doi=10.1017/S1356186300013341|s2cid=232348502}}</ref>

Notable members and fellows of the Society have included [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Aurel Stein|Sir Aurel Stein]], [[Wilfred Thesiger|Sir Wilfred Thesiger]], and [[Giorgi Tsereteli (orientalist)|George V. Tsereteli]].

==Branches==
The society is affiliated with associate societies in India ([[The Asiatic Society|Calcutta]], [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai|Mumbai]], [[Daly Memorial Hall#Mythic society|Bangalore]], [[Madras Literary Society|Madras]] and [[Bihar]]), the former branch in Mumbai now being known as the [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai]].

It is also affiliated with the [[Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka]], the [[Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch|Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong]] (established in 1847), the [[Asiatic Society of Japan]] (established in 1875), the [[Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]] (established in 1877), [[Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch]] (established in 1900) and the [[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] (established in 1952 as Asiatic Society of Pakistan, and since 1972 renamed as Asiatic Society of Bangladesh).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalasiaticsociety.org/about-us/|title=About Us – Royal Asiatic Society|website=royalasiaticsociety.org|access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

In China, the former South China Branch is now known as the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong. The North China branch has been re-established in 2006 in [[Shanghai]] as the [[Royal Asiatic Society China]], the original branch having been founded in 1857 and dissolved in 1952. It has chapters in [[Suzhou]] and [[Beijing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rasbj.org/|title=RASBJ|website=Royal Asiatic Society, Beijing|access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

==Library and archives==
The Library has material from the 12th century to the present. All Society collections can be accessed in its dedicated Reading Room in the Society's offices in London during advertised opening hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/library-archives/ |title=Library & Archives |website=Royal Asiatic Society |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> The Society also maintains a Digital Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/digital-library/ |title=Digital Library |website=Royal Asiatic Society |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

==Journal==
The ''[[Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society]]'' is published by [[Cambridge University Press]] four times a year, each issue containing a number of scholarly essays, and several book reviews. It has been published under its current name since 1991, having previously been the ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland'' (1834–1991) and ''Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland'' (1824–1834).<ref>{{cite web|title=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|url=https://www.jstor.org/publisher/rasgbi|work=[[JSTOR]]|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501145449/https://www.jstor.org/publisher/rasgbi|url-status=live}}</ref> The present editor of the ''Journal'' is Professor [[Sarah Ansari]] of [[Royal Holloway, University of London]].  The executive editor is Charlotte de Blois. The ''Journal'' is double-peer-refereed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/journal/ |title=The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS) |website=Royal Asiatic Society |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

==Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland==
This fund was initially established in 1828.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Report and Accounts for the Year Ending 31 December 2003|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society|volume=14|issue=3|pages=307–319|doi=10.1017/S135618630400464X|year=2004|s2cid=232345152}}</ref> The results of its initial funding projects were soon forthcoming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00generallinks/ibnbatuta/00introlee.html|title=00introlee|website=www.columbia.edu|access-date=25 June 2007|archive-date=13 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013001230/http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00generallinks/ibnbatuta/00introlee.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fund became one of a large number of Victorian subscription printing clubs which published translations, re-issued historical works or commissioned original books which were too specialized for commercial publication; but unlike most of those now defunct organizations, the work of the Royal Asiatic Society Oriental Translation Fund is on-going into the 21st century with a "new series" and "old series" microform catalog available for scholarly research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microform.co.uk/academic/authorsearchresults.php?author=Royal+Asiatic+Society+of+Great+Britain+and+Ireland|title=Search Result|website=Microform Academic Publishers|date=20 October 2007|access-date=4 April 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020202159/http://www.microform.co.uk/academic/authorsearchresults.php?author=Royal%20Asiatic%20Society%20of%20Great%20Britain%20and%20Ireland|archive-date=20 October 2007}}</ref>

==Royal Asiatic Society prizes and awards==
For full details and recipients, see the Royal Asiatic Society's website.<ref>RAS website https://royalasiaticsociety.org/awards-prizes-visiting-fellowships/ Accessed 18 August 2023.</ref>
* Research Fellowships: Dr Michael Willis and Professor Peter Flügel.
* The Sir George Staunton Prize - awarded to a young scholar (completing a PhD, or having completed a PhD within the previous five years) for an article related to the history, archaeology, literature, language, religion, anthropology and art of Asia. 
* The [[Surya Subedi|Surya P. Subedi]] Prize<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Surya P. Subedi Prize|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/the-surya-p-subedi-prize/ |access-date=August 18, 2023|website=Royal Asiatic Society}}</ref> - an annual prize awarded for a publication on [[Nepal]].
* The Professor [[Mary Boyce]] Prize -  for [[religion in Asia]].
* The David Morgan Memorial Prize - for an article published in the [[Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society]] during a calendar year. For recent PhD recipients.
* The Royal Asiatic Society’s New Barwis-Holliday Award - awarded for new unpublished research on any of: anthropology, art, history, literature or religion of any part of East Asia. 
* The Royal Asiatic Society Award - awarded every three years; for Asian Studies (this award replaced the Royal Asiatic Society Gold Medal).
* The Sir [[Richard Francis Burton|Richard Burton]] Medal - awarded to scholars and travellers within Asia.
* The [[Denis Sinor]] Medal - for [[Inner Asia]]n studies.

==President==
Currently (2021–),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalasiaticsociety.org/governance/|title=Governance|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society|access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> the President of the Society is Professor Sarah Ansari and the Vice-President is Dr. [[Gordon Johnson (historian)|Gordon Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/people/dr-gordon-johnson|title=Dr Gordon Johnson - Wolfson College Cambridge|website=www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090540/https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/people/dr-gordon-johnson|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Past Presidents==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 2018-2021 [[Anthony Stockwell]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/history/staffdirectory/personalhomepages/anthonyjohnstockwell.aspx|title=Anthony John Stockwell - Royal Holloway, University of London|website=www.royalholloway.ac.uk|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024704/https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/history/staffdirectory/personalhomepages/anthonyjohnstockwell.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> (3rd term)
* 2015-2018 Gordon Johnson (2nd term)
* 2012–2015 Peter Robb<ref>{{cite web |url=http://royalasiaticsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Report-and-Financial-Statements-2012.pdf |title=Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2012 |publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508055317/http://royalasiaticsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Report-and-Financial-Statements-2012.pdf |archive-date=8 May 2016}}</ref>
* 2009–2012 Gordon Johnson
* 2006–2009 Anthony Stockwell (2nd term)
* 2003–2006 [[Francis Robinson]] (2nd term)
* 2000–2003 Anthony Stockwell
* 1997–2000 Francis Robinson
* 1993–1997 David W. MacDowall
* 1990–1993 Prof. [[Adrian David Hugh Bivar]]
* 1988–1990 Frank Steele<ref>{{cite journal|title=Frank Steele, OBE|doi=10.1080/714041357|volume=29|issue=2|journal=Asian Affairs|page=253|year = 1998|last1 = Zinkin|first1 = Maurice|last2=Malik|first2=Iftikhar}}</ref>
* 1979–1988 Sir [[Cyril Philips]]
* 1976-1979 [[Charles Fraser Beckingham]] (2nd term)
* 1973–1976 Prof. E.H.S. Simmonds
* 1970–1973 [[Basil William Robinson]]
* 1967–1970 Charles Fraser Beckingham
* 1964–1967 Prof. Sir [[Harold Walter Bailey]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://georgehewitt.net/pdf/Obituary_Sir_Harold_Bailey.pdf |title=Obituary: Prof. Sir Harold Bailey |author=George Hewitt |website=georgehewitt.net-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107005212/http://georgehewitt.net/pdf/Obituary_Sir_Harold_Bailey.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2017}}</ref>
* 1961–1964 Sir [[Richard Olaf Winstedt]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=6244&inst_id=19|title=AIM25 collection description|website=www.aim25.ac.uk|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105175846/http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=6244&inst_id=19|url-status=dead}}</ref> (4th term)
* 1958–1961 [[Gerard Clauson|Gerard L.M. Clauson]]
* 1955–1958 Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt (3rd term)
* 1952–1955 Sir [[Ralph Lilley Turner]]
* 1949–1952 Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt (2nd term)
* 1946–1949 [[Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough]]
* 1943–1946 Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt
* 1940-1943 [[Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel]]
* 1939-1940 [[Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon]]
* 1937–1939 [[Malcolm Hailey, 1st Baron Hailey]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.../2015.283411.The-Journal_djvu.txt|title=The Journal Of The Royal Asiatic Society 1937|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref>
* 1934–1937 [[David Samuel Margoliouth]]
* 1931–1934 [[Edward Douglas Maclagan]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=Sir Edward Maclagan K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E.|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland|volume=85|issue=1–2|pages=90|doi=10.1017/S0035869X00106239|year=1953|last1=Winstedt|first1=R. O.|doi-access=free}}</ref> (2nd term)
* 1928–1931 [[Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Modern Hindu Personalism: The History, Life, and Thought of Bhaktisiddhanta .|first=Ferdinando|last= Sardella|page =152}}</ref>
* 1925–1928 Edward Douglas Maclagan
* 1922-1925 [[Robert Chalmers, 1st Baron Chalmers]]
* 1921–1922 [[Richard Carnac Temple]]
* 1893–1921 [[Donald James Mackay, 11th Lord Reay]]
* 1890–1893 [[Thomas George Baring]]
* 1887–1890 [[Thomas Francis Wade]]
* 1884–1887 [[William Muir]]
* 1882–1884 Sir [[Henry Bartle Frere]] (2nd term)
* 1881 [[Sir Thomas Colebrooke, 4th Baronet|Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of Indian Biography|page=88}}</ref> (3rd term)
* 1878–1881 [[Henry Creswicke Rawlinson]] (2nd term)
* 1875–1878 Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=25581275|title=Royal Asiatic Society. Proceedings of the Fifty-Third Anniversary Meeting of the Society, Held on the 29th of May, 1876|first=Thomas Edward|last=Colebrooke|date=4 April 1877|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|volume=9|issue=2|pages=I–LXIII}}</ref> (2nd term)
* 1872–1875 Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere
* 1869–1871 Henry Creswicke Rawlinson
* 1867–1869 [[Percy Smythe, 8th Viscount Strangford]] (2nd term)
* 1864–1867 Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke
* 1861–1864 Percy Smythe, 8th Viscount Strangford
* 1858      [[William Henry Sykes]]
* 1855–1858 [[Horace Hayman Wilson]]
* 1852–1855 [[William Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton]]
* 1849–1852 [[Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere]]
* 1843–1849 [[George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland|year=1843|page=23}}</ref> 
* 1842–1843 [[William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland|year=1842}}</ref> (died in office)
* 1841–1842 [[George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster]] (died in office)
* 1823–1841 [[Charles Williams-Wynn (1775–1850)|Charles Williams-Wynn]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Fellows of The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland]]
*[[Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]]
*[[Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka]]
*[[Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch]]
*[[Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch]]
*[[Royal Asiatic Society China]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Some Society publications===
*"Charter of Incorporation of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland." ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.'' pp 25–27, 1957.
*Beckingham, C.F. ''Centenary Volume of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1823-1923.'' Pargiter, F.E. (ed.) Published by the Society, 1923, London.
*Mashita, Hiroyuki. ''Theology, Ethics and Metaphysics: Royal Asiatic Society Classics of Islam.'' Routledge Publishing, 2003.
*Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. B. W. Robinson. ''Persian Paintings in the Collection of the Royal Asiatic Society'' Routledge, 1998.
*Rost, Reinhold. "Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago" Reprinted for the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, from the "Journals" of the Royal Asiatic, Bengal Asiatic, and Royal Geographical Societies; the "Transactions" and "Journal" of the Asiatic Society of Batavia ... Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Malayan Branch Published by Trübner & co., 1887.
*Tritton, Arthur Stanley. ''Muslim Theology...'' Royal Asiatic Society by Luzac, 1947.
* Winternitz, Moriz (compiled), Frederick William Thomas (appendix). ''A Catalogue of South Indian Sanskrit Manuscripts: Especially Those of the [[C.M. Whish|Whish]] Collection Belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.'' Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Library. Whish Collection, 1902.

===Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society===
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|year=1834|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_MwABAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volumes 11-12|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North China Branch, Shanghai|year=1877|publisher=Kelly & Walsh.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kADAAAAMAAJ|archive-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J35JAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=Nov 11, 2009|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Volume 17|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|year=1885|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_vwRp8-H9NxsC|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Volume 19|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|year=1887|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|url=https://archive.org/details/journalroyalasi27irelgoog|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volume 24|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North China Branch, Shanghai|others=Contributor China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|year=1890|publisher=Kelly & Walsh.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVkDAAAAMAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society for the Year ..., Volumes 24-25|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. China Branch|year=1890|publisher=The Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=saJDAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volumes 26-27|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North-China Branch|year=1894|publisher=The Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zKRBAAAAYAAJ|access-date=8 October 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volumes 26-27|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North China Branch, Shanghai|year=1894|publisher=Kelly & Walsh.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TwDAAAAMAAJ|access-date=8 October 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volumes 28-29|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North China Branch, Shanghai, China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. China Branch, Shanghai Literary and Scientific Society|year=1898|publisher=Kelly & Walsh.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aj4DAAAAMAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volume 29|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North-China Branch|year=1895|publisher=The Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IKVBAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society for the Year ..., Volume 29|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. China Branch|year=1895|publisher=The Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4KNDAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society for the Year ..., Volume 30, Issue 1|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. China Branch|year=1897|publisher=The Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5J6gAAAAMAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volumes 31-33|others=Contributor Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Straits Branch|year=1898|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed At The American Mission Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oPgaAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1|year=1827|publisher=Parbury|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_qaJSAAAAcAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}

===Catalogues===
*{{cite book|title=Catalogue of the Chinese Library of the Royal Asiatic Society|first=Samuel|last=Kidd|year=1838|publisher=J.W. Parker|url=https://archive.org/details/b30092802|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1893|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Library, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, London. Library|year=1893|publisher=By the Society|url=https://archive.org/details/cataloguelibrar73librgoog|access-date=24 April 2014}}

===Miscellaneous===
*{{cite book|title=Miscellaneous papers relating to Indo-China and Indian archipelage: reprinted for the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Second Series, Volume 1|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Straits Branch|year=1887|publisher=Trübner|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utZMAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China: Reprinted for the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society from Dalrymple's "Oriental Repertory," and the "Asiatic Researches" and "Journal" of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 1|series=Trübner's Oriental series|author1=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Straits Branch|author2-link=Reinhold Rost|author2=Reinhold Rost|year=1887|publisher=Trübner & Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TgkYAAAAYAAJ|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Miscellaneous papers relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago, reprinted for the Straits branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|volume=II.|date=July 1886|publisher=TRÜBNER & CO.|url=https://archive.org/details/s1miscellaneousp02leyduoft|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*{{cite book|title=Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago, Volume 2|series=Trübner's oriental series|editor-first=Reinhold|editor-last=Rost|others=Contributor Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society|edition=2|volume=2 of Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago: Reprinted for the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, from the "Journals" of the Royal Asiatic, Bengal Asiatic, and Royal Geographical Societies; the "Transactions" and "Journal" of the Asiatic Society of Batavia; and the "Malayan Miscellanies" : Second Series, Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago: Reprinted for the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, from the "Journals" of the Royal Asiatic, Bengal Asiatic, and Royal Geographical Societies; the "Transactions" and "Journal" of the Asiatic Society of Batavia; and the "Malayan Miscellanies" : Second Series|year=1887|publisher=Trübner|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l1AdAAAAMAAJ|archive-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b5soAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=Jun 20, 2008|access-date=24 April 2014}}
*Leyden, John. (2013). [http://www.forgottenbooks.com/books/Miscellaneous_Papers_Relating_to_Indo-China_and_the_Indian_1000143440 Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago, Reprinted for the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.] London: Forgotten Books. (Original work published 1886)

===References relating to the Society and noted Fellows===
*Finn, Elizabeth Anne McCaul. ''Reminiscences of Mrs. Finn, Member of the Royal Asiatic Society.'' Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 1929.
*Hunter, William Wilson. ''Life of [[Brian Houghton Hodgson]]: British Resident at the Court of Nepal, Member of the Institute of France; Fellow of the Royal Society; a Vice-president of the Royal Asiatic Society, Etc.'' J. Murray, 1896.
*Simmonds, Stuart, Simon Digby. "The Royal Asiatic Society: its history and treasures": ''In commemoration of the sesquicentenary year of the foundation of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.'' E. J. Brill, 1979.
*[[Francis Henry Skrine|Skrine, Francis Henry]], William Wilson Hunter. ''Life of Sir William Wilson Hunter, K.C.S.I., M.A., LL.D., a Vice-president of the Royal Asiatic Society.'' Longmans, Green, and Co., 1901.
*Taintor, Edward C. "The Aborigines of Northern Formosa: A Paper Read Before the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society." Customs Press: Shanghai, 18 June 1874.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland}}
{{Wikisource index|Royal Asiatic Society}}

*[http://www.royalasiaticsociety.org Royal Asiatic Society website]

{{Authority control}}

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