Bicentennial of the Encyclopædia Britannica

The first two pamphlets ("numbers") of the Encyclopædia Britannica were issued in December 1768, being sold from the printing office of its originator, Colin Macfarquhar, in Nicholson Street in Edinburgh. In 1968, several celebrations of the Britannica's bicentennial were held, and the three volumes of the 1st edition were reprinted in facsimile.

On 15 October 1968, the Britannica threw a banquet for itself celebrating its 200th birthday. Queen Elizabeth herself was not present, although she sent warm thanks for the gift of a fresh copy of the 14th edition. Hundreds of guests were arranged at 13 tables and served an exceptional dinner with well-chosen wines and tasteful music:

During the reception, the music was provided by Pipe Major L. D. V. de Laspee of the London Scottish, by kind permission of Lt. Colonel A. F. Niekirk, TD Officer Commanding. During the banquet itself, music was provided by the String Orchestra of the Royal Artillery Band, as directed by Captain R. Quinn, MBE, LSRM, RA, by kind permission of the Director, Royal Artillery. Later in the banquet, a programme of fanfares was performed by the Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters. As Sir Gilbert Inglefield, the Lord Mayor of London, put it during his speech, "This, surely, is yet one more memorable episode in our chronicles of time."

Five speakers gave brief speeches at the banquet:

Many amusing episodes in the Britannica's history were recounted. Several speakers reiterated the Britannica's commitment to being not merely a reference work (an "enchantingly vast cornucopia of erudition", in Sir Gilbert Inglefield's words), but a great educational instrument of all humanity; in the words of Dr. Hutchins, "the Britannica seems destined to become a world university" and "Senator Benton...will go down in history as one of the most influential educators of our time." Prime Minister Harold Wilson stated that he and Jennie Lee were inspired to begin the Open University by the Britannica's push into international markets, as well as by the Soviet Union's dedicated broadcasting of educational propaganda. Finally, the Britannica's view of itself as the summa of all civilization can be gleaned from its publisher Bill Benton's speech.

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