| Geographical Society of Lima | |
| Native Name: | Sociedad Geográfica de Lima |
| Native Name Lang: | es |
| Abbreviation: | SGL |
| Headquarters: | Jirón Puno 450, Barrios Altos |
| Location City: | Lima |
| Location Country: | Peru |
The Geographical Society of Lima (Spanish; Castilian: Sociedad Geográfica de Lima, SGL) is a scientific institution and geographical society based in Lima, Peru, founded in 1888. It has a library of ancient works and publishes works of geographical significance. It was founded with the purpose of collecting materials to support the defense of territorial rights disputed by neighbouring countries, something of great importance at the time of its foundation,[1] and currently studies national geography and natural resources, determining the best routes for the construction of land roads and promoting immigration, as well as forming and preserving a geographical library, and maintaining correspondence with analogous societies in the world.[2] It awards decorations to those who make significant contributions to the knowledge of the reality of Peru.
It was created by supreme decree of February 22, 1888, given by the first government of Andrés Avelino Cáceres. This, in one of his messages to the National Congress, stated:[3]
The newspaper El Comercio, in its edition of February 24, 1888, outlined the importance of its foundation:
It was Luis Carranza, a prominent doctor, journalist and politician from Ayacucho, who promoted its creation, being its second director, a position he held for ten years.[2]
Among its founding members were illustrious personalities such as Eduardo de Habich, Antonio Raimondi, Ernest Malinowski, Camilo Carrillo,, Aurelio García y García,, Guillermo Billinghurst,,,,, among others. Ex officio members were the senior officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the director of the School of Engineers, the general director of Telegraphs, the director of the Naval School and the professor of Geography of the Guadalupe School.[2]
It emerged as dependent on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its statutes were approved by supreme resolution of July 20, 1892. It operated on the upper floors of the National Library of Peru in Abancay Avenue, suffering serious damage during the fire of 1943.[2]
Because at that time there were almost no scientific centres in Peru, the Society absorbed the activity of a few men of science and attracted the most select cultivators of the study of the various geographical disciplines, thus concentrating within it the most select intellectuality of the country.[3]
Since its founding, the Society has had well-known intellectuals from various specialties as presidents.[3] [1]