Despite the fact that chemistry was surpassing alchemy in popularity during this time period, many members of the Royal Society fervently practiced it during these years.   Elias Ashmole (1670-1692), for example, was a founding member of the Royal Society as well as an avid student of alchemy. Ashmole took a very spiritual approach to alchemy, believing that the “Angelicall Stone” could provide for human contact with angels through dreams of revelations. He edited and published three alchemical volumes (which he later presented to Charles II, who was said to have a particular interest in chemical and alchemical studies) and copied letters that had been sent to him about legendary alchemical figures up until his death in 1692.(6) In terms of men who professed a ‘spiritual approach’ to alchemy, Newton certainly fit the description.  Evidently he subscribed to the grandeur idea that “saw himself as the last of the interpreters of God’s will in actions, living on the eve of the fulfillment of the times.  In his generation he was the vehicle of God’s external truth.”  How was Newton able to draw such a prophetic conclusion? Through the use of "new mathematical notations and an experimental method he combined the knowledge of the priest-scientists of the earliest nations, of Israel’s prophets, of the Greek mathematicians, and of the medieval alchemists."(7)  

    Perhaps the most well-known example of a Royal Society member active in the field of alchemy (besides Newton) was Robert Boyle (1627-1691), who also believed that the field of alchemy had connections to the supernatural realm. Boyle is known to have conducted alchemical experiments in the early seventeenth century, and his “Dialogue on Transmutation” (published sometime between 1675 and 1685) overturned common objections to the theory and practice of transmutation. Yet Newton’s connection between alchemy and religion was tempered, in large part due to his unshakeable faith in an omnipotent God.  In the end, “alchemy was alien to his Scripture-bound religion- it savoured of enthusiasm and was too remote from God’s historically revealed word in the bible.” (9)  In 1689, Boyle used his influence to help ensure the Parliamentary repeal of the Act Against Multipliers (which had prohibited the public practice of alchemy). In a letter to John Locke, Newton wrote that Boyle had “procured the repeal of the Act of Parliament against Multipliers,” interpreting this as evidence that Boyle had finally devised the recipe necessary to transform base metals into gold. (10) 

Section III: Newton as Warden of the Mint

The practice of alchemy by notable people in high places in London society reached its paramount point with Newton being appointed to the Royal Mint. Newton’s time at the Royal Mint started March 19th, 1696 when he received the appointment to be Warden of the Mint through the recommendation to the King by his friend Charles Montague who was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time.  Montague felt the job was a good one for Newton because “tis the Chief Officer of the Mint, tis worth five or six hundred pounds per An, and has not too much bus’nesse to require more than you may spare.”(11) Essentially it paid relatively well and Newton's obligations were limited.  Furthermore this offer could not have come at a more opportune time for Newton, who was, "fully-prepared for a radical and lasting change in his life.  He had been slipping again into a mire of depression and was probably aware that his best scientific work lay behind him."(12) According to John Young, this move from Cambridge to London required Newton to give up his alchemy laboratory, but he still made notes on the subject and kept in contact with people who still did experiments. (13) Yet this is not to suggest Newton somehow ignored the new duties bestowed upon him as Warden of the Mint- in fact, "Newton had gone as far as he could with the work that had obsessed him for so long. Now, as he began a new life, he threw himself into it with the same vigour he had employed as an alchemist and natural philosopher."(14) According to Milo Keyens, Newton’s main preoccupation while at the mint was the recoinage of England’s debased currency. He worked as hard at his job as a civil servant as he did in his scientific or philosophical work. (15) Among the other things he did as Warden was: advise the government on monetary policy, give his views on the management of the money supply and help establish the gold standard and overall make the Warden of the Mint no longer a sinecure job. After three years as Warden, Newton was then made Master of the Mint in 1699 where he became responsible for testing the weight of coins and assaying the metal used in them. (16)