The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established by Royal Charter in 1902, and is a fellowship of about 750 scholars. The Academy is self-governing and independent.

Election as a Fellow of the British Academy recognises high scholarly distinction in some branch of the humanities or social sciences, evidenced by published work. Fellows may use the letters FBA after their names.

The Academy states its objectives as follows:

• to represent the interests of scholarship nationally and internationally;
• to give recognition to excellence;
• to promote and support advanced research;
• to further international collaboration and exchange;
• to promote public understanding of research and scholarship; and
• to publish the results of research.

Presidents of the British Academy, 1902-present

• The Lord Reay 1902-1907
• Sir Edward Maunde Thompson 1907-1909
• Samuel Butcher 1909-1910
• Sir Adolphus Ward 1911-1913
• The Viscount Bryce 1913-1917
• Sir Frederic Kenyon 1917-1921
• The Earl of Balfour 1921-1928
• H. A. L. Fisher 1928-1932
• John William Mackail 1932-1936
• Sir David Ross 1936-1940
• J. H. Clapham 1940-1946
• Sir Idris Bell 1946-1950
• Sir Charles Kingsley Webster 1950-1954
• Sir George Norman Clark 1954-1958
• Sir Maurice Bowra 1958-1962
• The Lord Robbins 1962-1967
• Sir Kenneth Clinton Wheare 1967-1971
• Sir Denys Lionel Page 1971-1974
• Sir Isaiah Berlin 1974-1978
• Sir Kenneth James Dover 1978-1981
• Sir Owen Chadwick 1981-1985
• The Lord Quirk 1985-1989
• Sir Anthony Kenney 1993-1997
• Sir Keith Thomas 1993-1997
• Sir Tony Wrigley 1997-2001
• The Viscount Runciman 2001-

External links

• The British Academy (http://www.britac.ac.uk/)
• The British Academy research resources portal (http://www.britac.ac.uk/portal/index.html)