About Us

‘IN THE BELIEF
that many features of the traditional accounts
of the character and career of Richard III are
neither supported by sufficient evidence nor
reasonably tenable, the Society aims
to promote, in every possible way,
research into the life and times of Richard III
and to secure a reassessment of the material
relating to this period and raise awareness
of the role in history of this monarch.’

The Richard III Society was founded in 1924 by a Liverpool surgeon, Dr Saxon Barton, and a small group of amateur historians. Originally known as The Fellowship of the White Boar, they believed that history had not treated Richard fairly and that his reputation was worthy of re-examination.

In the 1950s, three events converged to prompt a surge of renewed interest in Richard III. Two books were published – Josephine Tey’s novel The Daughter of Time, and Paul Murray Kendall’s sympathetic biography of Richard, together with the release of Laurence Olivier’s film of Shakespeare’s Richard III. In response, the Fellowship of the White Boar opened up to a wider membership and in 1959 changed its name to The Richard III Society. In 1980, HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Richard III’s namesake) agreed to become the Society’s patron, a role he has fulfilled ever since. As he says:

‘…the purpose – and indeed the strength – of the Richard III Society derives from the belief that the truth is more powerful than lies; a faith that even after all these centuries the truth is important. It is proof of our sense of civilised values that something as esoteric and as fragile as reputation is worth campaigning for.’

The Society now has several thousand members worldwide and membership is open to all. We aim to offer something for everyone interested in the life and times of King Richard III. Join us to indulge a passion or pursue an academic interest, and become part of an active, welcoming community.

The Society is now 100 years old. With a growing membership, and the increased importance of the digital world, we are moving forward with the way we communicate. We have an unrivalled fund of knowledge and research, making us the foremost authority on Richard III. Our members achieved what was considered an impossible feat – finding the mortal remains of Richard himself. Much is expected of us, and our ambition is to embrace a variety of opportunities to engage with our members and the wider public. We look forward to a stimulating centenary experience.