Paper on Mr Augustus E. John
Account for members by the Secretary of Augustus John's resignation and the reasons for proposing his re-election to the Royal Academy at the General Assembly of 15 February 1940, despite the fact that the laws of the Academy provided that vacancies of Academicians should only be filled up from among the Associates. The paper refers to similar previous cases involving
Alfred Gilbert and
Sir Joshua Reynolds, which had received the royal assent before confirmation, and reproduces a letter from the King's private secretary, Alexander Hardinge, to the President,
Sir Edwin Lutyens, dated 1 February 1940. The quoted letter provides royal assent for the measure.