| 2008 | Professor Nigel Thrift, Vice-Chancellor, University of Warwick For his ground-breaking and distinguished contribution to research in human geography |
| 2007 | No award |
| 2006 | Vanessa Lawrence, Director General, Ordnance Survey |
| 2005 | No award |
| 2004 | Professor David Lowenthal |
| 2002 | Professor Sir Ron Cooke DSc |
| 2001 | The American Geographical Society, USA |
| 2000 | Professor Kenneth J. Gregory, Chairman IGC 2004 |
| 1999 | Professor Colin Clarke, School of Geography, University of Oxford |
| 1998 | Professor J.T. Coppock CBE, Vice President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society |
| 1997 | Professor Eckart Ehlers, International Geographical Union |
| 1996 | Mr. Gilbert M. Grosvenor, National Geographic Society |
| 1995 | Professor H.Th. Verstappen |
| 1994 | Dr. Denis St-Onge, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society |
| 1993 | Professor Peter Haggett |
| 1992 | The Sierra Club, USA |
| 1989 | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Shackleton of Burley |
| 1988 | Professor Stig Jaatinen, President, Finnish Geographical Society |
| 1984 | Professor J. Wreford Watson |
| 1972 | George E.R. Deacon |
| 1969 | Professor J.A. Steers |
| 1964 | Professor L. Dudley Stamp |
| 1958 | Vivian Ernest Fuchs PhD |
| 1954 | John Bartholomew MC JP |
| 1945 | Professor Herbert J. Fleure DSc |
| 1944 | James M. Wordie |
| 1933 | The Baron Meston of Agra and Dunotter KCSI LLD |
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| 1927 | John Mathieson FRSE FRSGS |
| 1924 | Dr. Hugh Robert Mill DSc, for his long-continued geographical work of high order |
| 1923 | Professor J.W. Gregory FRS |
| 1919 | Rt. Hon. Field-Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde KT |
| 1915 | Dr. J. Scott Keltie LLD |
| 1913 | Professor Albrecht Penck |
| 1912 | Captain Roald Amundsen |
| 1911 | J.Y. Buchanan |
| 1910 | Professor James Geikie DCL LLD |
| 1908 | Dr. Sven Hedin |
| 1906 | HSH Albert, 1st Prince of Monaco |
| 1905 | Colonel Sir F. Younghusband KCIE |
| 1904 | Dr. W.S. Bruce |
| 1897 | Dr. Fridtjof Nansen |
| 1890 | H.M. Stanley MP |