Founding of Mensa International

Mensa International is a society for people with a high intelligence quotient, whose members must score in the top two percent on an approved standardised test. It was founded in Oxford, England, by the barrister Roland Berrill and the scientist and lawyer Lancelot Ware, who wanted a society of bright people for social and intellectual exchange, without regard to religion, politics or background. The name is Latin for table, reflecting the idea of a round-table gathering. Mensa has grown to tens of thousands of members in dozens of countries, and organises meetings, lectures and special-interest groups, but has no political or educational agenda.

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