The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was founded in 1841 by a group of leading London chemists and druggists. The new Society was formed on April 15 1841, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand. Its aims were to unite the profession into one body, to protect its members' interests and to advance scientific knowledge.
In September 1841, the Society took a yearly lease on the house at 17 Bloomsbury Square, where it was to remain until it built new headquarters in Lambeth, South London, in September 1976.
In March 1937, King George VI became the Society's patron and the monarch has been patron of the Society ever since. In May 1988, the Queen agreed that the title "Royal" should be granted to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
For information sheets about the history of the Society, click here
In 1843, Queen Victoria granted the Society its royal charter, giving it a corporate framework that was refined by supplemental charters in 1901, 1948, 1953 and 2004.
The Society's Royal Charter, Byelaws and Regulations are reproduced here as PDF files.
Click on the links below:
Previously, the Society's Byelaws have been made under powers provided either by the Charter or by the Pharmacy Act 1954. Under the Society's new governing documents the terminology is/will be different. Instead of Byelaws, the Council makes Regulations under the new Charter and Rules under the new legislation (the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007, which has repealed the Pharmacy Act 1954). In due time all the existing Byelaws will be superseded by Regulations or Rules.
For the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order and subsequent amending legislation, click on the links below:
* These Regulations update the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order, among other legisation, in line with European Community Directive 2005/36/EC
The process of superseding current Byelaws deriving from the Charter by Regulations under the new Charter began in December 2004 with the making of Regulations governing election or appointment to the Council. The rest of the Byelaws deriving from the Charter will remain in force until such time as they are superseded by Regulations.
The process of superseding current Byelaws deriving from legislation began in 2007 with the making of Rules governing registration, fitness to practise and disqualification, fitness to practise and registration appeals committees and their advisers, and fees. The rest of the Byelaws deriving from legislation will remain in force until such time as they are superseded by Rules.
For the Rules, click on the links below:
Records listing office holders, honorary fellows and members, fellows and award winners of the Society since its foundation in 1841 are reproduced here as PDF files.
Click on the links below