The world's first service club, The Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA was formed on 23rd February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among member's offices.
By 1921, Rotary Clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.
Read the entire history of Rotary International Here.