Geographer Royal

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Geographer Royal is a Scottish honorific appointment. [1] The holder of the position originally was intended to give geographic and mapping advice to the sovereign. In 1682, King Charles II appointed the first Geographer Royal, Robert Sibbald. [2] [3]

A further three Geographer Royal appointments were made during the 18th and 19th centuries. These included Alexander Keith Johnston a Scottish geographer and cartographer who was made Geographer Royal following his publication of The National Atlas of Historical, Commercial and Political Geography in 1843. [4] In 1897, Queen Victoria appointed George Harvey Johnston, an Edinburgh cartographer and publisher to the position. [5] [3] Upon his death, the position remained for vacant for 118 years until in 2015, professor Charles Withers was appointed to the post. His appointment ended a 118 year vacancy during this period. [2] [3] [6]

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References

  1. "Geographer Royal for Scotland". Royal Scottish Geographical Society . Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Researcher appointed Geographer Royal". The University of Edinburgh.
  3. 1 2 3 "First Geographer Royal for Scotland in 118 years appointed". BBC News . Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  4. Cassell (1900). Cassells Encyclopaedia Of General Information Vol 6. London: Cassell and Company Ltd. p. 91.
  5. Altic, Mirela (2017). Dissemination of Cartographic Knowledge: 6th International Symposium of the ICA Commission on the History of Cartography. Springer. p. 181. ISBN   9783319615158.
  6. "First Geographer Royal for Scotland in 118 years". Herald Scotland . Retrieved 30 August 2021.