Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
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| Location |
Apothecaries' Hall Black Friars Lane, London |
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| Date of formation | 1617 |
| Company association | Medicine and pharmacy |
| Order of precedence | 58th |
| Master of company | DW Adams MA PhD FRPharmS (2016-17) |
| Motto | Opiferque per Orbem Dicor |
| Website | Apothecaries' Society |
The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London is one of the livery companies of the City of London. It is one of the largest livery companies (with over 1,600 members in 2012) and ranks 58th in their order of precedence.
The society is a member of the London Museums of Health & Medicine and its guild church is the Church of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe. The society's modern roles include educational, social, ceremonial and charitable activities, in addition to supporting the City of London, its governance and the Lord Mayor of the City of London.
Prior to the foundation of the society in 1617, London apothecaries were in the Grocers' Company (founded 1345, and whose trade was described in 1365 as the "Mistery of Grossers, Pepperers and Apothecaries") and before that they were members of the Guild of Pepperers (founded before 1180).
Having sought autonomy for many years, the apothecaries finally separated from the Grocers' Company in 1617 when they were granted a Royal Charter by James I. During the remainder of the 17th century its members (including Nicholas Culpeper) challenged the College of Physicians members' monopoly of practising medicine. In 1704, the House of Lords overturned a ruling of the Queen's Bench in the "Rose Case", which effectively gave apothecaries the right to practice medicine, meaning that apothecaries may be viewed as forerunners of present-day general (medical) practitioners or family physicians.
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