Person    | Male  Born 8/1/1823  Died 7/11/1913

Alfred Russel Wallace

Explorer and naturalist. Born Monmouthshire (which, if we can believe Wikipedia, between 1542 and 1974 was not definitively in either Wales or England). Joined the family surveying business and learnt a number of technical trades. He also developed an interest in natural history and was a teacher for a time. In 1848 he began a series of expeditions to the Amazon and the Malay peninsula which lasted until 1862.

While abroad he developed the theory of evolution through natural selection independently from Darwin. At a meeting of the Linnean Society in July 1858 two papers on the theory were read: one by Darwin and one by Wallace. For a number of reasons (such as modesty and deference) Wallace allowed Darwin to be credited with the theory. But, as the founder of bio-geography, he does have a line named after him: the 'Wallace line'. His studies enabled him to spot that species in Australia and Asia, either side of the line, had differences that would not be expected given their geographical closeness. His explanation involved sunken continents but we now know that plate tectonics are the reason.

Wallace returned to England, formed a friendly relationship with Darwin and continued his scientific researches and writings. Travelled the US on a lecture tour. Previously an agnostic, in 1866 he publicly endorsed spiritualism and through his writings became an accepted authority. Other unusual interests include his presidency of the Land Nationalisation Society (which wanted a more equitable ownership of land), his support of the anti-vaccination movement and his opposition to the possibility of extra-terrestrial life. Always interested in the subject, in 1889 he declared himself a socialist. Died Broadstone, Dorset, where he had moved in 1902.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Alfred Russel Wallace

Commemorated ati

Alfred Wallace

Alfred Russel Wallace, 1823 - 1913, naturalist, lived here. Greater London Co...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir Thomas Graham Jackson

Sir Thomas Graham Jackson

Architect (and writer of ghost stories). Born Heath Street, Hampstead. Much of his work is of educational buildings, quite a few in Oxford. Died at home at 49 Evelyn Garden.

Person, Architecture, Paranormal

1 memorial
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Born in Edinburgh where he trained as a doctor. Extremely successful writer of the Sherlock Holmes stories. A sportsman: a boxer, a cricketer who once dismissed W. G. Grace. The first Englishman to...

Person, Literature, Paranormal, Seriously Famous, Scotland

7 memorials
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett married Robert Browning in the St Marylebone Church facing York Gate in Euston Road, on 12 September 1846. Keen participant in spiritual séances, taking Robert with her, but he wa...

Person, Paranormal, Poetry, Italy

3 memorials
Annie Besant

Annie Besant

Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule. Born Annie Wood at 2 Fish Street Hill. Married, aged 19, Frank Besant (brother to Sir Walter) bu...

Person, Gender Issues, Nationalism, Paranormal, Politics & Administration, India, Ireland

4 memorials
V. K. Krishna Menon

V. K. Krishna Menon

Politician who campaigned for India's independence from Britain. Lived in London for 24 years. Member of the Theosophical Society. Born Karela, India. Studied at the LSE. He worked for the publishe...

Person, Nationalism, Paranormal, Politics & Administration, India

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Eleanor Jane Chute

Eleanor Jane Chute

She was born as Eleanor Jane Portal on 13 May 1854 in Oakley, Basingstoke, Hampshire, the second daughter and the third of the seven children of Sir William Spencer Portal, 1st Baronet (1822-1905) ...

Person, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Penny Savings Bank

Penny Savings Bank

From Tottenham Quakers  "In 1798 Priscilla Wakefield founded the first "frugality bank" in England. This she founded at Ship Inn Yard in Tottenham. It was intended to help people on lower incomes t...

Concept, Commerce, Social Welfare

1 memorial