History Royal Geographical Society

lowther lodge, royal geographical society (with ibg) headquarters, designed richard norman shaw

the society founded in 1830 under name geographical society of london institution promote advancement of geographical science . later absorbed older african association, had been founded sir joseph banks in 1788, raleigh club , palestine association.

like many learned societies, had started dining club in london, select members held informal dinner debates on current scientific issues , ideas.

founding members of society included sir john barrow, sir john franklin , sir francis beaufort. under patronage of king william iv later became known royal geographical society (rgs) , granted royal charter under queen victoria in 1859.

from 1830 – 1840 rgs met in rooms of horticultural society in regent street, london , 1854 -1870 @ 15 whitehall place, london. in 1870, society found home when moved 1 savile row, london – address became associated adventure , travel.

the society used lecture theatre in burlington gardens, london lent civil service commission. however, arrangements thought rather cramped , squalid.

a new impetus given society s affairs in 1911, election of earl curzon, former viceroy of india, society s president (1911–1914). premises in savile row sold , present site, lowther lodge in kensington gore, purchased £100,000 , opened use in april 1913. in same year society s ban on women lifted.

lowther lodge built in 1874 hon william lowther norman shaw, 1 of outstanding domestic architects of day. extensions east wing added in 1929, , included new map room , 750 seat lecture theatre. extension formally opened hrh duke of york (later king george vi) @ centenary celebrations on 21 october 1930.

the history of society closely allied many of earlier years colonial exploration in africa, indian subcontinent, polar regions, , central asia especially.

it has been key associate , supporter of many notable explorers , expeditions, including of darwin, livingstone, stanley, scott, shackleton, hunt , hillary.

the history of society inter-linked history of british geography, exploration , discovery. information, maps, charts , knowledge gathered on expeditions sent rgs, making unique geographical collections. society published first journal in 1831 , 1855, accounts of meetings , other matters published in society proceedings. in 1893, replaced geographical journal still published today.

the society pivotal in establishing geography teaching , research discipline in british universities, , funded first geography positions in universities of oxford , cambridge.

2012 poster exhibition in glass pavilion on centenary of scott s final expedition south pole

with advent of more systematic study of geography, institute of british geographers (ibg) formed in 1933, academic society fellows, including andrew charles o dell, sister body society. activities included organising conferences, field trips, seminars , specialist research groups , publishing journal, transactions of institute of british geographers. rgs , ibg co-existed 60 years until 1992 when merger discussed. in 1994, members balloted , merger agreed. in january 1995, new royal geographical society (with institute of british geographers) formed.

the society works other existing bodies serving geographical community, in particular geographical association , royal scottish geographical society.

in 2004, society s historical collections relating scientific exploration , research, of national , international importance, opened public first time. in same year, new category of membership introduced widen access people general interest in geography. new foyle reading room , glass pavilion exhibition space opened public in 2004 – unlocking society intellectually, visually , physically 21st century. example, in 2012 rgs held exhibition, in glass pavilion, of photographs taken herbert ponting on captain robert falcon scott s expedition south pole in 1912.