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]

References

  1. ^ "Geographer Royal for Scotland". Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Researcher appointed Geographer Royal". The University of Edinburgh.
  3. ^ a b c "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.


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