The 
Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical Society

The RGS is the core and foundation of all exploration and geographical survey. Every year since 1831 there has been two main awards. The Foundaer’s Medal Award (first awarded in 1832) and the Patrion’s Award (1838). These are Gold medals and King Charles (as of now) has the last say!

This is what Professor Joe Smith, the Director at Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) wrote to Børge:

Dear Børge,
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Founder’s Medal 2025
Since 1832, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)'s prestigious Medals and Awards have recognised excellence in geographical research and fieldwork, teaching and public engagement. They are presented annually in recognition of those who have made outstanding contributions within the sphere of geography.

I am delighted to inform you that His Majesty The King has conferred upon you the Founder’s Medal for the encouragement and promotion of geographical science and discovery.
The Medal will be presented by the Society’s President at the Society’s Medals and Awards celebration on Monday 2 June 2025. 

 The letter goes on. But Børge, being Børge, was be out on the ice, on Ellesmere Island.

 But he commented from the tent was:



This is the greatest honour I could have received. An award established in 1832 by the British Royal Family, and approved personally by King Charles, is an incredible honour. I am proud and humbled that what I have been doing for almost 40 years is appreciated in this way by the Royal Geographic Society, an organization with such a long history, and work wide standing.
The award shows that demanding expeditions and breaking boundaries in the polar regions are still relevant and perhaps more important than ever. I have been an eyewitness, a messenger and experienced first-hand the changes in all the incredibly vulnerable and important geographical polar regions.

I am infinitely grateful and humbled.

Børge

The medal:

Designed by W Wyon, the Founder's Medal is engraved with the recipient's name and the date of the award. One side of the medal displays the head of King William IV and on the reverse is the figure of Minerva standing in front of a globe, holding a wreath and a scroll. A sextant and other surveying instruments lay at her feet.

Gold Medal recipients

The Gold Medals (Founder’s and Patron’s Medals) originated as an annual gift of 50 guineas from King William IV. It was awarded for the first time in 1831, for the encouragement and promotion of geographical science and discovery.
In 1839 the Society decided that this sum should be converted into two gold medals of equal value, to be designated the Founder’s Medal and the Patron’s Medal.
Today both Medals are approved by His Majesty The King.

Gold Medal recipients are listed in full below:

1832

Founder's Medal - Richard Lander
For important services in determining the course and termination of the Niger

1833

Founder's Medal - John Biscoe
For his discovery of Graham’s Land and Enderby’s Land in the Antarctic

1834

Founder's Medal - Captain Sir John Ross
For his discovery of Boothia Felix and King William Land and for his famous sojourn of four winters in the Arctic

1835

Founder's Medal - Sir Alexander Burnes
For his remarkable and important journeys through Persia

1836

Founder's Medal - Captain Sir George Back
For his recent discoveries in the Arctic, and his memorable journey down the Great Fish River

1837

Founder's Medal - Captain Robert Fitzroy
For his survey of the coasts of South America, from the Rio de la Plata to Guayaquil in Peru

1838

Founder's Medal - Colonel Francis Rawdon Chesney
For valuable materials in comparative and physical geography in Syria, Mesopotamia and the delta of Susiana

1839

Founder's Medal - Thomas Simpson For tracing the hitherto unexplored coast of North America
Patron's Medal - Dr. Edward Rüppell For his travels and researches in Nubia, Arabia and Abyssinia

1840

Founder's Medal - Major Henry Rawlinson For researches in Persian Guayana
Patron's Medal - Robert H. Schomburgk For his perseverance and success in exploring the territory and investigating the resources of British Guyana

1841

Founder's Medal - Lieutenant H. Raper For excellent work on Practical Navigation and Nautical Astronomy
Patron's Medal - Lieutenant John Wood For his journey to the source of the Oxus and for valuable labours on the Indus

1842

Founder's Medal - Captain Sir James Clark Ross For his brilliant achievement at the South Pole, to within less than 12° of which he safely navigated his vessels, discovering a great Antarctic continent
Patron's Medal - Rev. Dr. E. Robinson For his valuable work ‘Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia’

1843

Founder's Medal - Edward John Eyre For his enterprising and extensive explorations in Australia, under circumstances of peculiar difficulty
Patron's Medal - Lieut. J. F. A. Symonds For his triangulation over Palestine and for his determination of the difference between the level of the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea

1844

Founder's Medal - W. J. Hamilton For valuable researches in Asia Minor
Patron's Medal - Professor Adolph Erman For important geographical labours in Siberia and Kamstchatka

1845

Founder's Medal - Dr. Charles Beke For his exploration in Abyssinia
Patron's Medal - Professor Carl Ritter For his important geographical labours

1846

Founder's Medal - Count P. E. de Strzelecki For exploration in the south eastern portion of Australia
Patron's Medal - Professor A. Middendorff For explorations in Northern and Eastern Siberia

21847

Founder's Medal - Captain Charles Sturt For explorations in Australia, and especially for his journey fixing the limit of Lake Torrens and penetrating into the heart of the continent to lat. 24° 30'S, long. 138° 0'E
Patron's Medal - Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt For explorations in Australia, especially for his journey from Moreton Bay to Port Essington.

1848

Founder's Medal - Sir James Brooke For his expedition to Borneo, and the zeal he has shown in promoting geographical discovery
Patron's Medal - Captain Charles Wilkes, USN For the talent and perseverance he displayed in a voyage in the Antarctic regions ... and for splendid scientific work

1849

Founder's Medal - Austen Henry Layard For important contributions to Asiatic Geography, interesting researches in Mesopotamia, and for his discovery of the remains of Nineveh*
Patron's Medal - Baron Charles von Hugel For his enterprising exploration of Cashmere

1850

Patron's Medal - John Charles Frémont of the U.S. Topographical Engineers For his important geographical labours in the far West of the American Continent Chronometer Watch presented to - Rev. David Livingstone, the enterprising missionary For his journey to the great lake of Ngami

1851

Founder's Medal - Dr. George Wallin For his interesting and important travels in Arabia
Patron's Medal - Thomas Brunner For meritorious labours in exploring the Middle Island of New Zealand

1852

Founder's Medal - Dr. John Rae For his survey of Boothia undermost severe privations ... and for his very important contributions to the Geography of the Arctic
Patron's Medal - Captain Henry Strachey For extensive explorations and surveys in Western Tibet

1853

Founder's Medal - Francis Gallton For fitting out and conducting in Expedition to explore the centre of Southern Africa

Patron's Medal - Commander E. A. Inglefield For his enterprising Survey of the coasts of Baffin Bay, Smith Sound and Lancaster Sound

1854

Founder's Medal - Admiral William Smyth For his valuable Maritime Surveys in the Mediterranean

Patron's Medal - Captain Robert McClure For his remarkable exertions ... in navigating his ship through the ice of the Polar Seas, and for his discovery of the North West Passage

1855

Founder's Medal - Rev. David Livingstone For his recent explorations in Africa

Patron's Medal - Charles Andersson For travels in South Western Africa

1856

Founder's Medal - Elislia Kent Kane For services and discoveries in the Polar Regions during the American Expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin

Patron's Medal - Heinrich Barth For his extensive explorations in Central Africa, his excursions about Lake Chad and his perilous journey to Timbuctu

1857

Founder's Medal - Augustus C. Gregory For extensive and important explorations in Western and Northern Australia

Patron's Medal - Colonel Andrew Scott Waugh For geodetical operations, as remarkable for their extent as for their accuracy, whereby [India] has been covered by triangulation

1858

Founder's Medal - Captain Richard Collison For discoveries in the Arctic Regions

Patron's Medal - Professor Alexander Bache For extensive and accurate surveys of America

1859

Founder's Medal - Captain Richard F. Burton For his various exploratory enterprises, and especially for his perilous expedition with Captain. J. H. Speke to the great lakes in Eastern Africa

Patron's Medal - Captain John Palliser for the valuable results of his explorations in the Rocky mountains of North America

1860

Founder's Medal - Lady Franklin For self-sacrificing perseverance in sending out expeditions to ascertain the fate of her husband

Patron's Medal - Captain Sir F. L. McClintock For the skill and fortitude displayed by him and his companion in their search for records of the lost [Franklin] expedition and for valuable coast surveys

1861

Founder's Medal - Captain John Hanning Speke For his eminent geographical discoveries in Africa, and especially his discovery of the great lake Victoria Nyanza

Patron's Medal - John McDouall Stuart For very remarkable explorations in the interior of Australia

1862

Founder's Medal - Richard O’Hara Burke In remembrance of that gallant explorer who with his companion Wills, perished after having traversed the continent of Australia

Patron's Medal - Captain Thomas Blakiston For his survey of the Yang-tsze-Kiang

1863

Founder's Medal - Frank T. Gregory For successful explorations in Western Australia

Patron's Medal - John Arrowsmith For the very important services (in cartography) he has rendered to geographical science

1864

Founder's Medal - Captain J. A. Grant For his journey across Eastern Equatorial Africa with Captain Speke

Patron's Medal - Baron C. von der Decken For his Geographical Surveys of the lofty mountains of Kilimandjaro

1865

Founder's Medal - Captain T. G. Montgomerie For his great trigonometrical journey from the plains of the Punjab to the Karakoram Range

Patron's Medal - Samuel Baker For his vigorous explorations in the interior of Africa

1866

Founder's Medal - Dr. Thomas Thomson For his researches in the Western Himalayas and Thibet

Patron's Medal - W. Chandless For his Survey of the River Purus [South America]

1867

Founder's Medal - Admiral Alexis Boutakoff For being first to launch and navigate ships in the Sea of Aral ... and for his survey of the mouths of the Oxus

Patron's Medal - Dr. Isaac Hayes For his expedition towards the open Polar Sea

1868

Founder's Medal - Dr. Augustus Petermann For his important services as a Writer and Cartographer

Patron's Medal - Gerhard Rohlfs For his extensive travels in the interior of Northern Africa … and especially for his traverse of the continent from Tripoli to Lagos

1869

Founder's Medal - Professor A. E. Nordenskiöld For designing and carrying out the Swedish expeditions to Spitzbergen … whereby great additions have been made to our acquitance with zoology, botany, geology and meteorology

Patron's Medal - Mrs. Mary Somerville Who throughout her very long life has been eminently distinguished by her proficiency in those branches of science which form the basis of Physical Geography

1870

Founder's Medal - George W. Hayward For his journey into Eastern Turkistan, and for reaching the Pamir Steppe

Patron's Medal - Lieutenant Francis Garnier For his extensive surveys ... from Cambodia to the Yatig-tsze-Kiang … and for bringing his expedition to safety after the death of his chief

1871

Founder's Medal - Sir Roderick Murchison Who for 40 years watched over the Society with more than paternal solicitude, and has at length placed it among the foremost of our scientific Societies

Patron's Medal - A. Keith Johnson For distinguished services in the promotion of Physical Geography

1872

Founder's Medal - Colonel Henry Yule For eminent services to Geography

Patron's Medal - Robert B. Shaw For journeys in Eastern Turkistan, and for his extensive astronomical and hypsometrical observations

1873

Founder's Medal - Ney Elias For his enterprise and ability in surveying the course of the Yellow River, and for his journey through Western Mongolia

Patron's Medal - Henry Morton Stanley For his Relief of Livingstone, and for bringing his valuable journal and papers to England

1874

Founder's Medal - Dr. Georg Schweinfurth For his explorations in Africa

Patron's Medal - Colonel P. Egerton Warburton For his successful journey across the previously unknown western interior of Australia

1875

Founder's Medal - Lieutenant Karl Weyprecht For his enterprise and ability in command of expeditions to Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla

Patron's Medal - Lieutenant Julius Payer For explorations and discoveries in the Arctic regions

1876

Founder's Medal - Lieutenant Verney Lovett Cameron For his journey across Africa from Zanzibar to Benguela, and his survey of Lake Tanganyika

Patron's Medal - John Forrest For his numerous successful explorations in Western Australia

1877

Founder's Medal - Captain Sir George Nares For having commanded the Arctic Expedition of 1875/6, during which ships and sledge parties reached a higher Northern latitude than had previously been attained

Patron's Medal - The Pundit Nain Singh For his great journeys and surveys in Tibet and along the Upper Brahmaputra, during which he determined the position of Lhasa and added largely to our knowledge of the map of Asia

1878

Founder's Medal - Baron F. von Richthofen For his extensive travels and scientific explorations in China

Patron's Medal - Captain Henry Trotter For services to Geography which resulted in the connection of the Trigonometrical Survey of India with Russian Surveys from Siberia

1879

Founder's Medal - Colonel N. Prejevalsky For successive expeditions and route-surveys in Mongolia and the high plateau of Northern Tibet

Patron's Medal - Captain N. V. J. Gill For important work along the Northern frontier of Persia

1880

Founder's Medal - Lieutenant A. Louis Palander For his services in connection with the Swedish Arctic Expeditions in the Vega

Patron's Medal - Ernest Giles For his explorations and surveys in Australia

1881

Founder's Medal - Major Serpa Pinto For his journey across Africa ... during which he explored 500 miles of new country

Patron's Medal - Benjamin Leigh Smith For important discoveries along the coast of Franz-Josef Land

1882

Founder's Medal - Dr. Gustav Nachtigal For his journeys through the Eastern Sahara

Patron's Medal - Sir John Kirk For unremitting services to Geography, as a naturalist, as second-in-command to Dr. Livingstone, and as H.M. Consul-General at Zanzibar

1883

Founder's Medal - Sir Joseph Hooker For eminent services to scientific Geography

Patron's Medal - E. Colborne Baber For scientific works during his many exploratory journeys in the interior of China

1884

Founder's Medal - A. R. Colquhoun For his journey from Canton to the Irrawadi

Patron's Medal - Dr. Julius von Haast For his extensive explorations in the Southern Island of New Zealand

1885

Founder's Medal - Joseph Thomson For his zeal, promptitude and success during two expeditions into East Central Africa

Patron's Medal - H. E. O’Neill For his 13 journeys of exploration along the coast and into the interior of Mozambique

1886

Founder's Medal - Major A. W. Greely For having so considerably added to our knowledge of the shores of the Polar Sea and the interior of Grinnell Land

Patron's Medal - Guido Cora For important services as a writer and cartographer

1887

Founder's Medal - Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Holdich For zeal and devotion in carrying out surveys of Afghanistan

Patron's Medal - Rev. G. Grenfell For extensive explorations in the Cameroons and Congo

1888

Founder's Medal - Clements R. Markham In acknowledgment or the value or his numerous contributions to geographical literature ... on his retirement from the Secretaryship of the Society after 25 years’ service

Patron's Medal - Lieutenant H. Wissmann In recognition of his great achievements as an explorer in Central Africa

1889

Founder's Medal - A. D. Carey For his remarkable journey in Central Asia during which he travelled 4750 miles through regions never visited by an Englishman

Patron's Medal - Dr. G. Radde For a life devoted to the promotion of Scientific Geography

1890

Founder's Medal - Emin Pasha For the great services he rendered to Geography during his twelve years’ administration of the Equatorial Province of Egypt

Patron's Medal - Lieutenant F. E. Younghusband For his journey from Machuria and Pekin to Kashmir, and especially for his route-surveys and topographical notes

1891

Founder's Medal - Sir James Hector For investigations pursued as Naturalist to the Palliser expedition

Patron's Medal - Dr. Fridtjof Nansen For having been first to cross the inland ice of Greenland ... as well as for his qualities as a scientific geographer

1892

Founder's Medal - Alfred Russel Wallace The well-known naturalist and traveller and co-discoverer with Charles Darwin of the theory of natural selection, in recognition of the high geographical value of his great works

Patron's Medal - Edward Whymper For his route-map and detailed survey among the Great Andes of the Equator

1893

Founder's Medal - Frederick Selous In recognition of twenty years’ exploration and surveys in South Africa

Patron's Medal - W. Woodville Rockill For his travels and explorations in Western China and Tibet

1894

Founder's Medal - Captain H. Bower For his remarkable journey across Tibet, from west to east

Patron's Medal - Elisée Reclus For eminent services rendered to Geography as the author of Nouvelle Géographie Univerelle

1895

Founder's Medal - Dr. John Murray For services to physical Geography, especially oceanography, and for his work on board the Challenger

Patron's Medal - The Hon. George Curzon For travels and researches in Persia, French Indo-China, the Hindu Kush, and Pamirs

1896

Founder's Medal - Sir William MacGregor For services to Geography in British New Guinea, in exploring, mapping and giving information on the natives

Patron's Medal - St. George Littledale For important journeys in the Pamirs and Central Asia

1897

Founder's Medal - P. Semenoff For his long-continued efforts in promoting Russian exploration in Central Asia

Patron's Medal - Dr George M. Dawson For exploration in the North West Territories and Alaska

1898

Founder's Medal - Dr Sven Hedin For important exploring work in Central Asia

Patron's Medal - Lieutenant R. E. Peary, USN For explorations in Northern Greenland, and especially for discovering the northern termination of the Greenland ice

1899

Founder's Medal - Captain G. L. Binger For valuable work within the great bend of the Niger

Patron's Medal - Fernand Foureau For continuous exploration in the Sahara

1900

Founder's Medal - Captain H. H. P. Deasy For exploring and survey work in Central Asia

Patron's Medal - James McCarthy For great services to geographical science in exploring and mapping all parts of the kingdom of Siam

1901

Founder's Medal - HRH The Duke of the Abruzzi For his journey to the summit of Mount St. Elias, and for his Arctic voyage in the Stella Polare

Patron's Medal - Dr. Donaldson Smith For memorable journey across the unknown parts of Lake Rudolf and the Omo

1902

Founder's Medal - General Sir Frederick Lugard For persistent attention to African Geography

Patron's Medal - Major Molesworth Sykes For journeys in Persia and for the support given by him to native explorers

1903

Founder's Medal - Douglas Freshfield In recognition of his valuable contributions to our knowledge of the Caucasus

Patron's Medal - Captain Otto Sverdrup For important discoveries in Jones Sound and for the important part he played as captain of the Fram during Dr. Nansen’s famous expedition

1904

Founder's Medal - Sir Harry Johnston For his many valuable services towards the exploration of Africa

Patron's Medal - Commander Robert Scott For services as leader or the National Antarctic Expedition, and for his great sledge journey to 82º 17'S

1905

Founder's Medal - Sir Martin Conway For explorations in the mountain regions of Spitsbergen

Patron's Medal - Captain C. H. D. Ryder For his survey of Yunnan and his work in connection with the Tibet Mission

1906

Founder's Medal - Alfred Grandidier The veteran French savant who for forty years has devoted himself to the exploration of Madagascar, and for his monumental work on the island in 52 large quarto volumes

Patron's Medal - Dr. Robert Bell Who during forty-five years of field work has mapped an immense area of Canada previously unknown

1907

Founder's Medal - Dr. Francisco Moreno For extensive explorations in the Patagonian Andes

Patron's Medal - Captain Roald Amundsen For his daring voyage for the purposes of research in the region of the North Magnetic Pole, and for his first accomplishment by any vessel of the famous North-West Passage

1908

Founder's Medal - Lieutenant Boyd Alexander For his three years’ journey across Africa from the Niger to the Nile

Patron's Medal - HSH The Prince of Monaco For oceanographical studies off the coast of Spitsbergen

1909

Founder's Medal - Dr. M. A. Stein For his extensive explorations in Central Asia, and in particular his archaeological work

Patron's Medal - Colonel M. G. Talbot For the large amount of excellent survey work done by him on the Afghan frontier and in the Sudan

1910

Founder's Medal - Colonel H. H. Godwin-Austen For geographical discoveries and surveys along the North-eastern frontier of India, especially his pioneer exploring in the Karakoram

Patron's Medal - Dr. William Spiers Bruce For explorations in the Arctic and Antarctic

1911

Founder's Medal - Colonel P. K. Kozioff For explorations in the Gobi desert, Northern Tibet and Mongolia

Patron's Medal - Dr. J. B. Charcot For his important expeditions to the Antarctic, during which he conducted investigations of high scientific value in geology, meteorology, magnetic conditions and biology

1912

Founder's Medal - Charles M. Doughty For his remarkable exploration in Northern Arabia, and for his classic work in which the results were described

Patron's Medal - Douglas Carruthers For important expeditions to Ruwenzori, Turkestan, Arabia and Mongolia

1913

The Founder’s Medal was not awarded, but an inscribed casket was presented to Lady Scott containing the Patron’s Medal and the Special Antarctic Medal awarded to her late husband.

Patron's Medal - The late Dr. E. A. Wilson For his excellent work in the study of the zoology of the Antarctic ... and for his skill as an artist

1914

Founder's Medal - Professor Albrecht Penck For his advancement of almost every branch of scientific geography, and in particular his idea of an International map of the world on the millionth scale

Patron's Medal - Dr. Hamilton Rice For his meritorious work on the head waters of the Orinoco and the Northern tributaries of the Amazon

1915

Founder's Medal - Sir Douglas Mawson For his conduct of the Australian Antarctic Expedition which achieved highly important scientific results

Patron's Medal - Dr. Filippo de Filippi For his great expedition to the Karakoram and Eastern Turkestan

1916

Founder's Medal - Colonel P. H. Fawcett For his contributions to the mapping of South America

Patron's Medal - Captain F. M. Bailey For explorations on the border of India and Tibet … and especially for tracing the course of the Tsang-po- Brahmaputra

1917

Founder's Medal - Commander D. G. Howarth For explorations in Asiatic Turkey

Patron's Medal - Brigadier-General C. G Rawling For explorations in Western Tibet and New Guinea

1918

Founder's Medal - Gertrude Bell For her important explorations and travels in Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia and on the Euphrates

Patron's Medal - Commandant J. Tilho For his long-continued surveys and explorations in Northern Africa

1919

Founder's Medal - Colonel E. M. Jack For his geographical work on the Western Front

Patron's Medal - Professor William Davis For his eminence in the development of Physical Geography

1920

Founder's Medal - H. St. John B. Philby For his two journeys in South Central Arabia

Patron's Medal - Professor Jovan Cvijic For his distinguished studies of the geography of the Balkan states and other parts of Europe.

1921

Founder's Medal - Vilhjalmur Stefansson For his distinguished services in the exploration of the Arctic Ocean

Patron's Medal - General R. Bourgeois For his long and eminent services to Geography and Geodesy

1922

Founder's Medal - Colonel C. K. Howard-Bury For his distinguished services in command of the Mount Everest Expedition

Patron's Medal - E. de Kovan Leffingwell For surveys and investigations on the coast of Northern Alaska

1923

Founder's Medal - Dr. Knud Rasmussen For exploration and research in the Arctic regions

Patron's Medal - The Hon. Miles Cater Smith For explorations in the unknown interior of Papua

1924

Founder's Medal - Ahmed Hassanein Bey For his journey to Kutara and Darfur

Patron's Medal - Commander Frank Wild For his long services to Antarctic exploration.

1925

Founder's Medal - Brigadier-General C. G. Bruce For lifelong geographical work in the exploration of the Himalaya … and his leadership of the Mount Everest Expedition of 1922

Patron's Medal - A. F. R. Wollaston For his journeys in Central Africa and Dutch New Guinea

1926

Founder's Medal - Colonel E. F. Norton For his distinguished leadership of the Mount Everest Expedition, 1924, and his ascent to 28,100 feet

Patron's Medal - Sir Edgeworth David For his work on the Funafuti atoll and for his leadership of the first ascent of Mount Erebus

1927

Founder's Medal - Major Kenneth Mason For his connection between the surveys of India and Russian Turkestan, and his leadership of the Shakshagam Expedition

Patron's Medal - Dr. Lauge Kock For his very remarkable six years’ exploration of Northern Greenland

1928

Founder's Medal - Dr. Tom Longstaff For long-continued geographical work in the Himalaya

Patron's Medal - Captain G. H. Wilkins For his many years’ systematic work in Polar Regions, culminating in his remarkable flight from Point Barrow to Spitsbergen

1929

Founder's Medal - Francis Rennell Rodd For his journeys in the Sahara and his studies of the Tuareg people

Patron's Medal - C. H. Karius For his crossing in Papua from the Fly River to the Sepik

1930

Founder's Medal - F. Kingdon-Ward For geographical exploration, and work on botanical distribution in China and Tibet

Patron's Medal - Carsten E. Borchgrevink For his pioneer Antarctic Expedition, which was first to winter in the Antarctic, to travel on the Ross Barrier and to obtain proof of its recession

1931

Founder's Medal - Bertram Thomas For geographical work in Arabia and his successful crossing of the Rub al Khali

Patron's Medal - Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, USN: "for his expedition to the Antarctic ... and for his flights over both North and South Poles".

1932

Founder's Medal - Henry George Watkins For his work in the Arctic Regions, especially as leader of the British Arctic Air Route Expedition

Patron's Medal - HRH The Duke of Spoleto For work in the Himalaya

1933

Founder's Medal - J. M. Wordie For work in Polar explorations

Patron's Medal - Professor Erich von Drygalski For researches in glaciology in the Arctic and Antarctic

1934

Founder's Medal - Hugh Ruttledge For his journeys in the Himalayas and his leadership of the Mount Everest Expedition, 1933

Patron's Medal - Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen For exploration in the Arctic and his work in Eskimo resettlement in Greenland

1935

Founder's Medal - Major R. A. Bagnold For journeys in the Libyan Desert

Patron's Medal - W. Rickmer Rickmers For long-continued travels in the Caucasus, culminating in his leadership of the Alai-Pamir Russo-German Expedition in 1928

1936

Founder's Medal - G. W. Murray For explorations and surveys in the deserts of Sinai and Eastern Egypt, and his studies of the Badawin tribes

Patron's Medal - Major R. E. Cheesman For explorations and surveys of the Blue Nile and Lake Tana

1937

Founder's Medal - Colonel C. G. Lewis For surveys in Iraq, Syria and the Irrawaddy Delta, and for his work on the Afghan and Turco-Iraq Boundary Commissions

Patron's Medal - Lincoln Ellsworth For his work in developing the technique of aerial navigation in the Polar regions, culminating in his successful flight across the Antarctic

1938

Founder's Medal - John Rymill For the valuable scientific work of his British Grahamland Expedition

Patron's Medal - Eric Shipton For his most distinguished record of mountain climbing

1939

Founder's Medal - Arthur M. Champion For his surveys of the Turkana Province (Kenya) and the volcanoes south of lake Rudolf

Patron's Medal - Professor Hans Ahlmann For exploration and glaciological studies in the Arctic

1940

Founder's Medal - Mr. and Mrs. Harold Ingrams For exploration and studies in the Hadhramaut

Patron's Medal - Lieutenant Alexander Glen For his expeditions in Spitsbergen and North east Land

1941

Founder's Medal - Captain P. A. Clayton For his surveys in the Libyan desert, and his application of his experience to desert warfare.

Patron's Medal - Dr. Isaiah Bowman For his travels in South America and for his great services to the science of Geography

1942

Founder's Medal - Freya Stark For her travels in the East and her account of them

Patron's Medal - Owen Lattimore For his travels and studies in Central Asia

1943

No medals awarded.

1944

No medals awarded.

1945

Founder's Medal - Dr. Charles Camsell For his contributions to the geology of the North

Patron's Medal - Sir Halford Mackinder For his long and distinguished service in the advancement of the science of Geography

1946

Founder's Medal - Brigadier Edward A. Glennie For his work on geodesy in India and his contributions to mapping in the Far East

Patron's Medal - Inspector Henry A. Larsen, RCMP For his achievement of the North West Passage from both west to east and east to west

1947

Founder's Medal - Brigadier M. Hotine For research work in Air Survey … and for his cartographic work

Patron's Medal - Colonel Daniel van der Meulen For exploratory journeys in the Hadhramaut, and his contributions to the geography of Southern Arabia

1948

Founder's Medal - Wilfred Thesiger For contributions to the Geography of Southern Arabia and for his crossing of the Rub al Khali desert

Patron's Medal - Thomas H. Manning For exploration and survey work in the Arctic

1949

Founder's Medal - Professor L. Dudley Stamp For his work in organising the Land Utilisation Survey of Great Britain and his application of Geography to National planning

Patron's Medal - Professor Hans Pettersson For his leadership of the recent oceanographical cruise in the Albatross

1950

Founder's Medal - George F. Walpole For contributions to the mapping of the Western Desert of Egypt

Patron's Medal - Professor Harald Sverdrup For contributions to polar exploration and for oceanographic investigations

1951

Founder's Medal - Dr. Vivian E. Fuchs For his contributions to Antarctic exploration and his research as leader of the survey 1948-50

Patron's Medal - Dr. Donald Thomson For geographical exploration and studies in Arnhem land

1952

Founder's Medal - H. W. Tilman For exploratory work among the mountains of East Africa and Central Asia

Patron's Medal - Paul-Emile Victor For contributions to Polar exploration and for his geophysical investigations of the Greenland Icecap

1953

Founder's Medal - P. D. Baird For explorations in the Canadian Arctic

Patron's Medal - Count Eigil Knuth For exploration in Northern Greenland … and for his contributions to Eskimo archaeology

1954

Founder's Medal - Brigadier Sir John Hunt Leader of the British Mount Everest Expedition

Patron's Medal - Dr. N. A. Mackintosh For research and exploration in the Southern Ocean

1955

Founder's Medal - Dr. John K. Wright For services in the development of geographical research and exploration

Patron's Medal - Commander C. J. W. Simpson Leader of the British Expedition to North Greenland

1956

Founder's Medal - John Giaever Leader of the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition, for contributions to Polar exploration

Patron's Medal - Charles Evans For contributions to Himalayan exploration

1957

Founder's Medal - Professor Ardito Desio For geographical exploration and surveys in the Himalayas

Patron's Medal - Sir George Binney For contributions to Arctic exploration ... the pioneer use of the air survey technique … and to the development of the university exploring expedition

1958

Founder's Medal - Dr. Paul A. Siple For contributions to Antarctic exploration and research

Patron's Medal - Sir Edmund Hillary For Antarctic and Himalayan exploration

1959

Founder's Medal - Commander W. R. Anderson, USN For the first trans-Polar submarine voyage in command of USS Nautilus

Patron's Medal - Sir Raymond Priestly For services to Antarctic exploration

1960

Founder's Medal - Phillip G. Law For Antarctic exploration and research

Patron's Medal – Professor Theodore Monod For geographical exploration and research in the Sahara

1961

Founder's Medal - Dr. Mikhail M. Somov For Antarctic exploration and research

Patron's Medal - Dr. John Bartholomew Editor 'The Times Atlas of the World', for contributions to cartography

1962

Founder's Medal - Captain Erwin McDonald, USN For coastal explorations in the Bellingshausen Sea (Antarctica)

Patron's Medal - Tom Harrison Government Ethnologist and Curator Sarawak Museum, for explorations in Central Borneo

1963

Founder's Medal - Captaine Jacques-Yves Cousteau For underwater exploration and research

Patron's Medal - Dr. Albert P. Crary For Antarctic research and exploration

1964

Founder's Medal - Dr. L. S. H. Leakey For palaeographical exploration and discoveries in East Africa

Patron's Medal - Dr. Thor Heyerdahl For geographical explorations in the South Pacific Ocean

1965

Founder's Medal - Dr. E. F. Rootes For Polar exploration and research, with special reference to the Canadian Arctic

Patron's Medal - Professor Lester C. King For geomorphological exploration in the Southern Hemisphere

1966

Founder's Medal - Professor E. J. H. Corner For botanical exploration in North Borneo and the Solomon Islands

Patron's Medal - Dr. G. Hattersley-Smith For glaciological investigations in the Canadian Arctic

1967

Founder's Medal - Claudio and Orlando Vilas Boas For contributions to exploration and development in the Mato Grosso

Patron's Medal - Professor Eduard Imhof For contributions to cartography

1968

Founder's Medal - Dr. W. Brian Harland For Arctic exploration and research

Patron's Medal - Professor Augusto Gansser For geological exploration and mapping in the Himalaya

1969

Founder's Medal - Rear Admiral Rodolfo N. M. Panzarini For services to Antarctic exploration and research and to international co-operation in Antarctic science

Patron's Medal - Drs. R. Thorsteinsson and E. T. Tozer

For contributions to exploration and economic development in the Canadian Arctic

1970

Founder's Medal - Walter William Herbert For Arctic and Antarctic exploration and surveys

Patron's Medal - Dr. Haroun Tazieff For volcanological research and exploration

181971

Founder's Medal - Sir George Deacon For oceanographical research and exploration

Patron's Medal - Dr. Charles Swithinbank For glaciological research and exploration

1972

Founder's Medal - Rear Admiral G. S. Ritchie For hydrographical charting and oceanographical exploration

Patron's Medal - Dr. M. D. Gwynne Leader, the RGS’s South Turkana (Kenya) Expedition

1973

Founder's Medal - N. L. Falcon, Leader, the RGS’s Musandam [North Oman] Expedition For contributions to the geographical history of the Persian Gulf region

Patron's Medal - Professor E. H. Thompson Professor of photogrammetry and surveying, University College London

1974

Founder's Medal - Christian J. S. Bonington For mountain explorations

Patron's Medal - Gordon de Q. Robin For polar research and exploration

1975

Founder's Medal - Sir Laurence Kirwan For contributions to the geographical history of the Nubian Nile valley and Eastern Africa, and for services to exploration

Patron's Medal - Dr. J. P. Kuettner For explorations of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans

1976

Founder's Medal - Dr. Brian B. Roberts For Polar exploration, and for contributions to Antarctic research and political negotiation

Patron's Medal - Rear Admiral Sir Edmund Irving For services as Hydrographer of the Navy and for his encouragement of exploration

1977

Founder's Medal - Professor Michael Wise For economic Geography, and for his contributions to international understanding in geographical teaching

Patron's Medal - Professor Kenneth Hare For discoveries in Arctic Geography

1978

Founder's Medal - Major-General R. Brown For services to the science of map-making

Patron's Medal - Professor Miezyslaw Klirnaszewski For his contributions to geomorphology and international understanding in Geography

1979

Founder's Medal - Dr. David Stoddart For contributions to geomorphology, the study of coral reefs and the history of academic Geography

Patron's Medal - Robin Hanbury-Tenison For leadership of scientific expeditions, including the Mulu Expedition, and for his work on behalf of primitive peoples

1980

Founder's Medal - Professor William R Mead

Patron's Medal - Professor Preston James

1981

Founder's Medal - Professor Keith J Miller

Patron's Medal - Professor Valter Schytt

1982

Founder's Medal - Mr Michael Ward FRCS

Patron's Medal - Mr Douglas Warren CMG

1983

Founder's Medal - Sir Peter Scott CBE DSC

Patron's Medal - Commander John Young NASA

1984

Founder's Medal - Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes Bt

Patron's Medal - Professor Pierre Gourou

1985

Founder's Medal - Mr David Attenborough CBE FRS

Patron's Medal - Walter Smith CB OBE

1986

Founder's Medal - Mr Timothy Severin

Patron's Medal - Professor Peter Haggett

1987

Founder's Medal - Dr Anthony Laughton FRS

Patron's Medal - Professor Richard J Chorley

1988

Founder's Medal - Professor Peter Hall FBA

Patron's Medal - Mr Nigel de N Winser

1989

Founder's Medal - Dr Monica Kristensen

Patron's Medal - Professor Keith Clayton CBE

201990

Founder's Medal - Dr John Hemming

Patron's Medal - Dr Richard Leakey

1991

Founder's Medal - Professor Andrew Goudie

Patron's Medal - Dr Helge and Dr Anne Stine Ingstad

1992

Founder's Medal - Professor Alan Wilson

Patron's Medal - Dr Martin Holdgate CB

1993

Founder's Medal - Professor Kenneth Gregory

Patron's Medal - Colonel John Blashford-Snell MBE

1994

Founder's Medal - Professor Ronald Cooke

Patron's Medal - Professor Ghillean Prance FRS

1995

Founder's Medal - The Earl of Cranbrook

Patron's Medal - Professor David Harvey

1996

Founder's Medal - Professor John Woods CBE

Patron's Medal - Professor John Thornes

1997

Founder's Medal - Professor Sir Tony Wrigley

Patron's Medal - Professor David Rhind

1998

Founder's Medal - Professor Robert Bennett

Patron's Medal - Dr David Drewry

1999

Founder's Medal - Professor Mike Kirkby For contributions to the development of processed-based and modelling approaches in geomorphology

Patron's Medal - Doug Scott, CBE For contributions to mountaineering and the knowledge of mountain regions

2000

Founder's Medal - Professor Brian Robson For contributions to urban geography and geographical perspectives to urban policy

Patron's Medal - Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG KCVO For contributions to promoting the understanding of global environmental issues in governmental and wider public arena

2001

Founder's Medal - Professor William Graf For contributions to research on dryland river processes, and the interactions of science and public policy

Patron's Medal - Reinhold Messner For contributions to mountaineering and mountain regions

2002

Founder’s Medal - Bruno Messerli For contributions to mountain research and the public awareness of mountain issues

Patron’s Medal - Dr David Keeble For advancing knowledge in economic and industrial geography’

2003

Founder's Medal - Professor Mike Goodchild For contributions to geographical information science

Patron’s Medal - Harish Kapadia For contributions to geographical discovery and mountaineering in the Himalayas

2004

Founder’s Medal - Professor Leszek Starkel For advancing international understanding of palaeohydrology and geomorphology

Patron’s Medal - Sydney Possuelo For contributions to Brazilian people’s rights and explorations in Amazonia

2005

Founder’s Medal - Professor Sir Nicholas Shackleton For research on Quaternary palaeoclimatology

Patron’s Medal - Professor Jean Malaurie For a lifelong study of the Arctic and its peoples

2006

Founder’s Medal - Professor Derek Gregory For international leadership of research in human geography and social theory

Patron’s Medal - Professor Jack Ives For his role internationally in establishing the global importance of mountain regions

2007

Founder’s Medal - Professor Roger Barry For international leadership of research on climate and climate change

Patron’s Medal - Professor Paul Curran For international development of geographical science through remote sensing and earth observation

2008

22Founder’s Medal - Professor Julian Dowdeswell For the encouragement, development and promotion of glaciology

Patron’s Medal - Professor Jesse Walker For the encouragement, development and promotion of coastal geomorphology

2009

Founder’s Medal - Dr Alan Baker For contributions to historical geography

Patron’s Medal - Professor Lord Nicholas Stern For contributions to climate change policy

2010

Founder’s Medal – Professor Diana Liverman For encouraging, developing and promoting understanding of the human dimensions of climate change

Patron’s Medal – Jack Dangermond For promoting geographical science through the development of Geographical Information Systems

2011

Founder’s Medal – Professor David Livingstone OBE For the encouragement and promotion of historical geography

Patron’s Medal – Dr Sylvia Earle For the encouragement, development and promotion of ocean science and exploration

2012

Founder’s Medal – Professor Charles Withers For the encouragement and development of historical and cultural geography

Patron’s Medal – Alastair Fothergill For promoting globally the understanding of the world’s environments

2013

Founder’s Medal – Professor Keith Richards For the encouragement and development of physical geography and fluvial geomorphology

Patron’s Medal – Michael Palin For the promotion of geography and geographical education

2014

Founder’s Medal - Professor Geoffrey Boulton For the development and promotion of glaciology

Patron’s Medal - Hans Rosling For the encouragement and development of the public understanding of geographical data and influencing decision makers across the world

2015

Founder’s Medal - Professor Michael Batty CBE For development and promotion of the geographical science of cities

Patron’s Medal – Paul Theroux For the encouragement of geographical discovery through travel writing

2016

Founder’s Medal - Professor Michael Storper For scholarship and leadership in human and economic geography

Patron’s Medal – Bob Geldof KBE For raising global public awareness and challenging the causes of inequality in Africa

2017

Founder’s Medal – Sir Gordon Conway KCMG FRS For the enhancement and promotion of agricultural development in Asia and Africa

Patron’s Medal – Lindsey Hilsum For promoting the understanding of global conflict and equality

2018

Founder’s Medal – Paul Ian Rose For scientific expeditions and enhancing public understanding

Patron’s Medal – Professor Yadvinder Malhi FRS For world leading studies on the impact of climate change on tropical ecosystems

2019

Founder’s Medal – Professor Trevor Barnes For sustained excellence and pioneering developments in the field of economic geography

Patron’s Medal - Dame Fiona Reynolds For her contribution to environmental protection, conservation and the preservation of the British landscape

2020

Founder’s Medal - Professor Heather Viles For her excellence in establishing the field of biogeomorphology

Patron’s Medal - Michael Jones For his contribution to the development of geospatial information

2021

Founder’s Medal – Andy Eavis For significant contribution in leading speleological expeditions, exploring and recording some of the largest caves in the world for over 50 years

Patron’s Medal – Dr Rita Gardner CBE For widespread advancement of Geography across all its sub-disciplines through her Directorship of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

2022

Founder’s Medal – Sir David Hempleman-Adams For enabling science through expeditions, and inspiring younger generations of geographers

Patron’s Medal – Professor Dame Jane Francis For her contributions to the earth and environmental sciences

2023

Founder’s Medal – Andrew Mitchell For his lifetime’s contribution to protect tropical rainforests and combat climate change

Patron’s Medal – Professor Felix Driver For his contributions to the Society and historical geography

2024

Founder’s Medal – Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB For outstanding contributions to the Society and to the promotion of geography in the UK and internationally

Patron’s Medal – Stephen Venables For his lifetime’s contribution to geographical discovery in the high mountains of the worl25