History

In XVI century, existed the Congregation and Apothecaries college from Madrid (Spain), under the glorious Evangelist San Lucas and "Nuestra Señora" of the Purification invocations. This Congregation and Apothecaries college acquired such a prestige, in the years of scientific corporations foundations, that Felipe V created, based on those and by a "Pragmática" in 21 August of 1737, the Pharmacists Royal College to be dedicated "to the cultivation and to the improvement of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Botany and Natural History", confirming all the privileges given by previous kings and to award a triple mission that reveals the purpose of its foundation and the quality of its members. His Majesty, Juan Carlos I the King, a descendant of Felipe V, in the 2003 Royal Academies opening session, celebrated in our Institution, declared that this "Pragmática" is the real precursor of the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy foundation. The College came apart of Congregation, and get settle into a new building in San Pedro street, and in 1745, in Barquillo Street in the corner with Sauco Street, where it built a Botanic Garden and a Chemistry Laboratory with the earnings of the sells of the Farmacopea, the Tarifa and the Triaca. The Royal College had an exclusively academic function. Their members, to enter, were swearing to defend the dogma of Maria's Inmanculada Conception, to observe the Bylaw and to obey the Director; likewise they were compelled to present a scientific memory and a pharmaceutical product elaborated by themselves. At the beginning of every month they celebrated scientific sessions and they had a permanent and useful relationship with other Spanish and foreign similar Societies. In 1780 the Pharmacists Royal College moved to Relatores Street, in the corner with Urosas Street, and due to the increasing activity in their Laboratory, acquired and own building, placed in Atocha Street, num. 47 (now 113), where Mr. Casimiro Gómez Ortega, the most important figure in the Corporation, built a great Laboratory and Garden, where there remained splendidly installed the teaching of the different disciplines, with professors and Library; these teachings, in 1840 were used by the Government to create the "Pharmacy College of San Fernando", using the Pharmacists Royal College building and Laboratory for the classes and degree exams, until than in 1830, with a national subscription among all the pharmacist, the new building placed in Farmacia Street, where remained installed the official teachings to be given, and being paid by the Government until 1845.

In 1850 the Corporation gets a new Bylaw, which replaced the first one elaborated in 1737, valid during one hundred and thirteen years, that changed its traditional characteristics; the title Real was eliminated, the name of Director was replaced by President and in 1852 the building was sold and the Corporation established in flat in Santa Clara Street num. 4, in the one that survived until the year 1939. In a memorable celebrated session on february 6, 1920, presided by Dr. Mr. José Rodríguez Carracido, with assistance of all the Professors and Registered members, it was confirmed the scientific character with which the Corporation was founded in 1737 and to claim the title of Royal, lost during the political fights in the XIX century and that it was returned by a Royal Order on may 13, 1920, by His Majesty Alfonso XIII the King, who in november came to preside at a session of distribution of prizes and made the present of a big picture, with his dedicatory, that is preserved as a proof of his royal friendship. Later, the Republican Government changed the name of Pharmacists Royal College by National Academy of Pharmacy, in january, 6, 1932. 15 of september of 1936 the Academy was dissolved, like other, for the Department of education, and may 28, 1939, it returned to be restored, reincorporated in it function for Department Order of july 27 with the title of "Royal" in consideration of it origin, and moved to the Campoamor Street num. 18, until it could give own building. The Academy reorganized rapidly it existence and applied the reform of the Bylaw of june 15, 1936 fixing in forty the number of Academicians, it gave perpetual character to the Secretariat, named Representative Academicians and intensified it collaborations with Portugal and America. The Ministry of Education, Mr. José Ibáñez Martín, knowing the importance and the useful of the pharmaceutical science, elaborated to the Ministers' Council, celebrated in San Sebastián in august 9, 1946, a Decree in which equalizing in category and preeminence the Real Academia to existing others, incorporates it into the "Spain Institute". In a Government Decree of february 7, 1947, the Academy gets a new Bylaw and redacted a new Regulation, aprobed by an Orden in the next april 8. The forty Academicians were elected that had to form part of the Spain Institute It was nominated as representative of the Academy in the Council of the Spain Institute to his Perpetual Secretary, Mr. Toribio Zúñiga Sánchez-Cerrudo. There was established the system of provision of the vacancies that from now on happened and they were named hte permanent Commission and the Sections in accordance with the new Bylaw. Finished the works of reform and adjustment of the old building of the Pharmacy Faculty, the Royal Academy moved to it, being inaugurated solemnly on octuber 25, 1967, being the Director of our Corporation Mr. Ricardo Montequi y Díaz de Plaza. In 1989, the Department of Education and Science, with its Decree num. 896 of july 14, approved the new Bylaws presented by the General Meeting of the Academy in those who are modified the articulation of the in force Bylaws that date back of december 1967, modified partly in july 1968. In those, the number of Academicians was extended and was created the figure of Supernumerary Academician; also the directive charges are restructurated and, in summary, are regulated the new ways that have to mediate the activities of the Academia. In autumn of 1991, began the important works of remodeling in the academic enclosure, which will allow, at the end of 1992, the definitive and functional incorporation of the sites coming from the old Institute of toxicology recovered some years ago. From that moment, it could be possible to make real the extension of the Museum of the Academy and the establishment of diverse computer services, an Editorial Department and some other places to hold scientific meetings and conferences: all of that directed to potentiate the academic aims fixed by the Academy Bylaws. Finnaly, it acquired the "National" denomination in the new Bylaws that came into force in 2003 and changed the denomination of Director by President of the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy, being the first, Mr. Juan Manuel Reol Tejada.