This distinction was instituted in 1900 in memory of Thomas Henry Huxley and is the highest honour at the disposal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. It is awarded annually, by ballot of the Council, to a scientist, British or foreign, distinguished in any field of anthropological research in the widest sense.
The lecture is normally delivered at a special meeting of the Institute in November and is followed by the presentation of the medal. The Lecture is normally published by the Institute.
