Religious Society of Friends
Quakerism properly refers to The Religious Society of Friends, whose members are commonly known as Quakers. It was founded in England in the 17th century by Christians who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and teaching of established churches. Historians generally credit George Fox (1624-1691) with being the principal founder or most important early leader of this organization.
The title Friends was adopted in 1652, the religious group being previously called Children of the Light and Friends of the Truth. The Puritan magistrate Gervase Bannett at Derby first used the term Quakers in 1650 after witnessing the trembling of Friends under religious fervour.