The Athenaeum is a club in London’s Pall Mall.

It was founded in 1824 by a chap called John Crocker. He encouraged scientists, writers and artists to join the club and amongst it’s notable members are Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, T.S Eliot, J.M.W Turner and Keats to name but a few.

The importance of ‘the club’ cannot be underestimated. the clubs served many purposes including the exchange of ideas and opinions, news and gossip.

John Crocker was the first man to use the term ‘Conservative’.