author
Sir John Scott Keltie
1840–1927
A Scottish geographer and influential editor, he helped turn geography into a more serious field of study in Britain. His long work with the Royal Geographical Society made him a key figure in shaping how exploration and geographical knowledge were presented to the public.
1 Audiobook
History of Geography
by Sir John Scott Keltie, O. J. R. (Osbert John Radcliffe) Howarth
About the author
Born in Dundee on March 29, 1840, he was educated in Perth and later studied at St Andrews and Edinburgh. Early in his career he worked in publishing and journalism, including editorial roles with W. & R. Chambers, Macmillan, and Nature, building the wide literary and scholarly experience that would shape his later work.
He is best known for his connection with the Royal Geographical Society. After joining the society in the 1880s, he served as librarian and then as its leading secretary for many years, becoming one of the main people behind its day-to-day work and public influence. He also edited The Statesman’s Year-Book and was associated with The Geographical Journal, helping bring geographical knowledge to a broader readership.
Remembered as an important advocate for geography in education, he played a major part in raising the subject’s standing in Britain. He was knighted late in life, and died in London on January 12, 1927.