The Raleigh Club was a

dining club A dining club (UK) or eating club (US) is a Social club, social group, usually requiring membership (which may, or may not be available only to certain people), which meets for dinners and discussion on a regular basis. They may also often have g ...

founded in 1826. It met at the 'Thatched House', a tavern in the

St James Saint James or St. James may refer to: People Saints *James, brother of Jesus (died 62 or 69), also known as James the Just *James the Great (died 44), Apostle, also known as James, son of Zebedee, or Saint James the Greater *James, son of Alphaeu ...

area of

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

as an alternative to the

Travellers Club The Travellers Club is a private gentlemen's club situated at 106 Pall Mall in London, United Kingdom. It is the oldest of the surviving Pall Mall clubs, established in 1819, and is one of the most exclusive. It was described as "the quintess ...

. It was founded by Sir

Arthur de Capell Brooke Sir Arthur de Capell Brooke, 2nd Baronet (22 June 1791 in Northamptonshire – 6 December 1858) was a British baronet and travel writer, Fellow of the Royal Society (1823) and co-establisher of the Raleigh Club (1827). Remarks on Norway He trave ...

as a place where real exploring travellers could meet, exchange tales, and try the cuisine of far-off lands. It served as an early developing forum for the

Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

and became subsumed by that body later in the century (when it was still known as the Geographical Club). Prominent early members included Sir John Barrow and

Alexander Burnes Captain Sir Alexander Burnes (16 May 1805 – 2 November 1841) was a Scottish explorer, military officer and diplomat associated with the Great Game. He was nicknamed Bokhara Burnes for his role in establishing contact with and expl ...

. In 1854, the Raleigh Club was dissolved as its members had become part of the Royal Geographic Society.

References

Dining clubs Geography organizations Travelers organizations Organizations established in 1827 Clubs and societies in London 1827 establishments in England {{UK-org-stub