Brussels Geographic Conference
Encyclopedia
The Brussels Geographic Conference was held in Brussels
Belgium
in 1876 at the request of King Leopold II of Belgium
. At the conference were invited nearly forty well-known experts, mainly they were schooled in the geographic sciences or were wealthy philanthropist
s. The Comité d'Études du Haut Congo was created, which would evolve into the Association Internationale Africaine. This initiative would in the end pave the way for the creation of Congo Free State
.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1876 at the request of King Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
. At the conference were invited nearly forty well-known experts, mainly they were schooled in the geographic sciences or were wealthy philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
s. The Comité d'Études du Haut Congo was created, which would evolve into the Association Internationale Africaine. This initiative would in the end pave the way for the creation of Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
.
Source
- Émile BanningÉmile BanningÉmile Theodore Joseph Hubert Banning was a doctor of philosophy and literature and a Belgian senior civil servant who played an important role in the Belgian politics of the 19th century....
, Africa and the Brussels geographical conference, translated by Richard Henry Major, London : Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1877 - Fondation du Congo, Memoires de Emile Banning, 1927