Honorary Fellowships are bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of geography. At the time of the founding of The Society in 1851, provision was made for a category of Honorary Fellows, and, until the first medal was awarded in 1896, this was the only honor the institution could bestow. Many of the Honorary Fellows are some of the most recognized names in geographical and exploration history. It is impossible to list here the more than three hundred names that comprise the roster over more than a century, but a sampling of the illustrious names from the early days gives some of their flavor. Some of the more recent Honorary Fellows later became medalists, as indicated on the following list, which carries the roll from 1918.