Although now rarely mentioned as the discoverer darwin, who discovered the theory independently, is usually cited wallace enjoyed a high reputation in his lifetime and received many of sciences most prestigious awards. Alfred russel wallace, british humanist, naturalist, geographer, and social critic. He is best known for independently proposing a theory of evolution due to natural selection that prompted charles darwin to. There were very long, glowing obituaries in all the worlds papers from bombay to boston saying he was the last of the great victorians. Wallace, on the other hand, continued his travels and focused his study on the importance of biogeography. The malay archipelago chronicles wallace s eight years exploring and documenting the natural history of southeast asia from singapore through indonesia and to papua new guinea.
On returning home, wallace published a travel book, the malay archipelago. Charles lyell and joseph dalton hooker arranged for both darwins and wallace s theories to be presented to a meeting of the linnaean society in 1858. Biography of wallace the alfred russel wallace website. Wallace was born in 1823 in usk now in monmouthshire. This was published in 1858 together with charles darwins idea wallace did extensive natural history exploring.
The author of the letter, send to gentleman geologist c. To collect biological and geographical specimens during the ships travel. Alfred russel wallace s most popular book is the malay archipelago. In the 20th century, the theory of evolution has become virtually synonymous with. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Of all the extraordinary victorian travelogues, the malay archipelago has a fair. Alfred russel wallace books list of books by author. Alfred russel wallace was a british naturalist and biologist. When did alfred russell wallace publish palm trees of the amazon and their uses.
Books about wallace the alfred russel wallace website. About the wallace website the official website of the wallace memorial fund. Tracing alfred russel wallaces footsteps through the. The land of the orangutan, and the bird of paradise. In fact, wallace and darwin collaborated on the idea of natural selection and presented their findings jointly to the linnean society in.
In this letter darwin writes to alfred russel wallace, a fellow naturalist and professional specimen collector. Of strong constitution, unlike alfred russel wallace is the man who simultaneously to darwin came up with the theory of evolution by natural selection. Alfred russel wallace was born in kensington cottage near usk, monmouthshire, england now part of wales on the 8th of january 1823 to thomas vere wallace and mary ann wallace nee greenell, a downwardly mobile middleclass english couple who had moved there from london a few years earlier in order to reduce their living costs. Wallace tells how mans place in the universe was written replies to his critics discusses questions raised by the book are the stars inhabited. Thomas was of scottish descent reputedly of a line leading back to the famous william wallace. His book is a magnificent combination of interesting sketches of travel and vivid pictures of natural history of the indomalay islands, the timor, celebes ad papuan group, and the moluccas. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. Alfred russel wallace 182319 was one of the most important and. Alfred russel wallace discovered the concept of evolution by natural selection. He is best known for proposing a theory of natural selection. The explorations of wallace were recounted in his fascinating book a narrative of travels on the amazon and rio negro 1853. Alfred russel wallace usk monmouthshire, 8 januari 1823 broadstone dorset, 7 november. Alfred russel wallaces most popular book is the malay archipelago.
Bbc travel the island that forever changed science. This site is dedicated to the life and work of alfred russel wallace 1823 19, one of the greatest scientists of all time. Alfred russel wallace on spiritualism, man, and evolution. Alfred russel wallace british naturalist britannica. Alfred russel wallace would have been 90 years old at the time of death or 192 years old today. Most famously, he had the revolutionary idea of evolution by natural selection entirely independently of charles darwin. Intelligent evolution alfred russel wallace advocated what is best described as a theory of intelligent evolution. A rediscovered life 2011 and alfred russel wallace s theory of intelligent evolution. Books by alfred russel wallace author of the malay. Alfred russell wallace quiz trivia questions with answers.
Edwards book a voyage up the river amazon, suggested to bates that they travel to brazil to collect specimens of insects, birds and other animals, both for their private collections and to sell to collectors and museums in europe. The british naturalist, biogeographer, author, humanitarian, alfred russel wallace jan. I first came across the name of alfred russel wallace after visiting a secondhand bookshop. Charles darwins letter to alfred russel wallace the. Wallace 182319 travelled extensively in the malay archipelago, he conducted scientific studies of the regions animal life, which to his deelopment of a theory of natural selection. His formulation of the theory of evolution by natural. List of books and articles about alfred russel wallace online. Highlights include his colourful descriptions of birds of paradise and orangutans, and encounters with local inhabitants. Discover librarianselected research resources on alfred russel wallace from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Alfred russel wallace, 182319 alfred russel wallace was born at usk, monmouthshire. You can find out his paper was published along with the writing of charles darwin in 1858. Therefore, charles darwin then decided to publish his own ideas in his famous book on the origin of species. It is hoped that the present web site contributes substantially to viewing wallace in his entirety and to understanding his relevance for today.
See all books authored by alfred russel wallace, including the malay archipelago. Beyond this, wallace is regarded as the preeminent collector and field biologist of tropical regions of the 19th century, and his book the malay archipelago which was joseph conrad s favourite bedside reading is one of the most celebrated travel writings of that century and has never been out of print. A narrative of travel, with studies of man and nature, and borneo, celebes, aru penguin great journeys, and more on. In capturing the crossgrained complexities of this exceptional collector of beetles and birds.
By alfred russel wallace the malay archipelago stanford travel classics 2nd second edition. He even weighed in on the debate as to whether or not life could exist on mars. For years alfred russel wallace was little more than an obscure adjunct to charles. One of alfred russel wal lace s motivations to travel to south america and the malay archipelago. Charles darwin 1809 82 was a naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection which was published in origin of species. He helped discover evolution, and then became extinct. He became a public figure in england during the second half of the 19th century, known for his courageous views on scientific, social, and spiritualist subjects.
Alfred russel wallace wrote on many different subjects. He conducted most of his research in the amazon rainforest of brazil in 1848. Alfred russel wallaces collection 4 books on apple books. A narrative of travel, with studies of man and nature by alfred russel wallace dover, 1962.
Alfred russel wallace biography, facts and pictures. Alfred russel wallace om, frs 8 january 1823 7 november 19 was a british naturalist, explorer, biologist and social activist. Intelligent evolution is a theory of common descent based upon natural selection strictly bounded by the principle of utility i. He was the eighth of nine children of thomas and mary wallace, a middleclass english couple of modest means. He went first to the amazon river basin with henry walter bates, and later to malaya and. In fact, alfred russel wallace, another british naturalist, was a codiscoverer of the theory though darwin has gotten most of the credit. The book was not only a best seller but also one of the most influential scientific books of all time. Darwin, was a certain alfred russel wallace, a selfeducated naturalist born january 8, 1823 in the welsh town of usk. Alfred russel wallace died aged 90 in broadstone, england, 7 november, 19. His body of work includes books on spiritual subjects such as, the scientific aspect of the supernatural, published in 1866, and a defence of modern spiritualism, published in 1874. Alfred wallace was famous with his work on the theory of evolution through natural selection. Alfred russel wallace has 141 books on goodreads with 4676 ratings. Where did alfred russell wallace travel to answers.
He also spent a week in colorado, with the american botanist alice eastwood as his guide, exploring the flora of the rocky. Alfred russel wallace was born on january 8th, 1823, the eighth child of thomas vere wallace and mary anne wallace. Alfred russel wallace was born on january 8, 1823 and died on november 7, 19. Although most of his splendid collections and much else had been lost at sea when his ship sank on 6 august 1852, the book nevertheless displays the keen eyes and mind of a naturalist, by then a mature professional. I was surprised to see that he had proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection independently of charles darwin and that when he died, in 19, wallace was one of. Alfred russel wallace, originally a land surveyor from a modest background, was a naturalist at heart and an adventurer. He has been described variously as a naturalist, a geographer, and a social critic. He left england to collect biological specimens in south america to. This authoritative biography is an excellent and inspiring read. A number of books have been written about wallace and they are listed below.
Darwin had been working on a major book on evolution and used that to develop on the origins of species, which was published in 1859. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Alfred russell wallace quiz questions with answers. The malay archipelago, the land of the orangutan and the bird of paradise. Alfred russel wallace, the forgotten man of evolution. Alfred russel wallace om frs 8 january 1823 7 november 19 was a british naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, biologist and illustrator. Alfred russel wallace may not be well known outside the scientific community, but his contributions to the theory of evolution were invaluable to charles darwin.
His vivid account of the beautiful, undisturbed islands opened up a whole new world to readers. Wallace s contributions to biology rival those of his friend and colleague charles darwin, though he is far less well known. He is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution through natural selection. How wallace s world of life challenged darwinism 2008. Alfred russel wallace the forgotten man of evolution. Alfred russel wallace biography alfred russel wallace was a british scientist and explorer, best known for discovering the concept of evolution by natural selection. Alfred russel wallace simple english wikipedia, the free. When 35yearold alfred russel wallace arrived in ternate in january 1858, hed been exploring the vast and sprawling mass of islands he called the malay archipelago for almost four years. Hannah atkins, new scientist a wellresearched, graceful biography. When he died, he was the most famous biologist in the world. I bought a book entitled literary dorset and found a long piece on wallace.