Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913)
Adam Walton sheds light on the groundbreaking achievements of Alfred Russel Wallace.
Adam Walton sheds light on the groundbreaking achievements of Alfred Russel Wallace.
Born in Monmouthshire in 1823, Alfred Russel Wallace was a pioneering naturalist and explorer who independently formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection, which matched the then unpublished ideas of Charles Darwin. The two published their scientific ideas jointly in 1858, one year prior to the publication of Darwin's famous book, On the Origin of Species.
165 years on, we're focusing on Wallace's often neglected legacy and re-discovering the impact he had on our understanding of the natural world.
Joining Adam is the Founder of the Wallace Memorial Fund and Director of the Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project, George Beccaloni, who describes Wallace as an intrepid adventurer, surviving a shipwreck, fever, and the class-based attitudes of Victorian Britain. Plus, Wallace's great-grandchildren, Bill Wallace and Sue Gillson, share their views on their inspiring ancestor.
Produced by Stuart Russell.