Société Royale Belge de Géographie
Encyclopedia
The Société Royale Belge de Géographie (SRBG, in English: the Royal Belgian Geographical Society) is a Belgian
learned society
which works to promote the geographical sciences
. It was founded on 27 August 1876 as the Belgian Society of Geography a few days before the opening of the Brussels Geographic Conference
to promote the exploration of various parts of the world. It was initially involved with commercial investment in Belgian colonies
. In 1882 King Leopold II
authorised the society to use the prefix "Royal". Although it was later funded privately Adrien de Gerlache
first unveiled his plans for the Belgian Antarctic Expedition
to the society in 1894.
In 1900 the society had more than one thousand members including several explorers such as the American, Richard Mohun
. By the middle of the twentieth century the society had changed its objectives from exploration to scientific research and study. The SRBG represents Belgium in the European Society of Geography and publishes the Belgian Journal of Geography, now branded as BELGEO. The SRBG awards a gold medal to noted geographers and explorers.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
learned society
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
which works to promote the geographical sciences
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
. It was founded on 27 August 1876 as the Belgian Society of Geography a few days before the opening of the Brussels Geographic Conference
Brussels Geographic Conference
The Brussels Geographic Conference was held in Brussels Belgium in 1876 at the request of King Leopold II of Belgium. At the conference were invited nearly forty well-known experts, mainly they were schooled in the geographic sciences or were wealthy philanthropists. The Comité d'Études du Haut...
to promote the exploration of various parts of the world. It was initially involved with commercial investment in Belgian colonies
Belgian colonial empire
The Belgian colonial empire consisted of three colonies possessed by Belgium between 1901 and 1962: Belgian Congo , Rwanda and Burundi...
. In 1882 King Leopold II
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
authorised the society to use the prefix "Royal". Although it was later funded privately Adrien de Gerlache
Adrien de Gerlache
Baron Adrien Victor Joseph de Gerlache de Gomery was an officer in the Belgian Royal Navy who led the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897 to 1899.-His early years:...
first unveiled his plans for the Belgian Antarctic Expedition
Belgian Antarctic Expedition
The Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897 to 1899, named after its expedition vessel Belgica, was the first expedition to winter in the Antarctic region.- Preparation and Surveying :...
to the society in 1894.
In 1900 the society had more than one thousand members including several explorers such as the American, Richard Mohun
Richard Mohun
Richard Dorsey Loraine Mohun was an American explorer and soldier of fortune. Mohun worked for the US government as a commercial agent in Angola and the Congo Free State. During his time as commercial agent, he volunteered to command a unit of Belgian artillery in a campaign to force Arab...
. By the middle of the twentieth century the society had changed its objectives from exploration to scientific research and study. The SRBG represents Belgium in the European Society of Geography and publishes the Belgian Journal of Geography, now branded as BELGEO. The SRBG awards a gold medal to noted geographers and explorers.