The Society of Cogers is a free speech society, established in 1755 in the City of London. It is the oldest debating society in the world and one of the oldest speaking gatherings of any kind.

The name “Cogers” is thought to be a pun on the word “cogitate”, meaning to think deeply. The society’s motto was “To speak freely, think freely, and write freely”.

The Society of Cogers was a popular forum for debate and discussion. Topics covered at the meetings ranged from politics and philosophy to literature and science. The society’s meetings were often lively and controversial, and they attracted a wide range of speakers, including politicians, writers, and philosophers. Previous members and visitors to the society include founding members John Wilkes, Charles Dickens, William Ewart Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, Daniel O’Connell, and many others throughout its 250-year history.

The Society of Cogers was a significant cultural institution in London during the 18th century. The society’s commitment to free speech and its lively debates helped to shape the intellectual and political landscape of the time. The society’s members included some of the most important writers, thinkers, and artists of the era, and their contributions to society’s debates helped to make it a valuable forum for discussion and debate.

 According to the Internet