The Academy was established by the Massachusetts legislature on May 4, 1780, charted in order "to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people." The sixty-two incorporating fellows represented varying interests and high standing in the political, professional, and commercial sectors of the state. The first class of new members, chosen by the Academy in 1781, included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as well as several international honorary members. The initial volume of Academy "Memoirs" appeared in 1785, and the "Proceedings" followed in 1846. In the 1950s, the Academy launched its journal "Daedalus", reflecting its commitment to a broader intellectual and socially-oriented program.