The club was founded on 11 March 1837 at the instigation of Charles Cardale Babington (1808-1895, then a student at St John's College), John James Smith (Gonville and Caius College), and William Haughton Stokes (Gonville and Caius College). Babington, club secretary for fifty-five years, viewed the club as the natural successor to the botanical and zoological discussions that John Stevens Henslow (1796-1861) had encouraged by hosting Friday evening soirées for his students. Henslow was also of St. John's College, and he and Babington successively held the position of professor of botany (1826-61 and 1861-95 respectively). The name of the club refers to John Ray (1627-1705), naturalist and theologian. It drew its membership primarily, though not exclusively, from senior members. It was self-selecting and limited in number. There were numerous notable members including geologist Adam Sedgwick, biblical scholar and theologian Fenton John Anthony Hort , and physicists George Gabriel Stokes and Joseph John Thomson (all of Trinity College).