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Who was an early member of the Royal Society?

  1. Isaac Newton

  2. Sir Edmund Halley

  3. Charles Darwin

  4. Stephen Hawking

The correct answer is: Sir Edmund Halley

Sir Edmund Halley was indeed an early member of the Royal Society, which was founded in 1660. The Royal Society is one of the world's oldest scientific institutions, dedicated to promoting and recognizing good scientific research. Halley, best known for his work on the orbits of comets and specifically for Halley's Comet, played a significant role in the early developments of astronomy and mathematics. During his time, the Royal Society served as a platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas among scientists, and Halley was an active part of this community. His involvement exemplified the spirit of inquiry and experimentation that the Society sought to nurture. Although Isaac Newton is often associated with the Royal Society and made significant contributions while a member, he joined after the Society's founding. In contrast, characters like Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking, while remarkable in their own rights, were not part of the early members of this institution, as they lived in much later periods.