The Geographical Club, formerly called the Raleigh Club, is a dining club closely associated with the Royal Geographical Society. It was founded in 1826, so is coming up to its bicentenary.
The history of the club features many names associated with exploration and travel.
On 24th May 1830, a momentous meeting of the Club took place. Sir John Barrow ( Second Secretary of the Admiralty) was in the Chair , and a motion was proposed, ‘ that a new and useful Society might …. be formed, under the name of The Geographical Society of London.’ The submission that led to this proposal was that, ‘….among the numerous literary and scientific societies established in the British metropolis, one was still wanting to complete the circle of scientific institutions, whose sole object should be the promotion and diffusion of that most important and entertaining branch of knowledge, GEOGRAPHY.’ Thus, The Raleigh Club had the distinction of being the parent body of The Geographical Society of London, later receiving the patronage of William IV to become the Royal Geographical Society.
Seven former GA Presidents have been the President of the Club:
- Douglas Freshfield
- Lord Nathan
- Charles Close
- Harry Lindsay
- Colonel Sir Thomas Holdich
- L Dudley Stamp
- Michael Wise
The first President of the Club was the geologist Sir Roderick Murchison.
