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Alfred Russel Wallace

Alfred Russel Wallace in Singapore in 1862

Alfred Russel Wallace was the epitome of the Victorian explorer and scientist who spent many years gathering specimens in the jungles of Brazil and modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia for wealthy collectors in England.

These collecting expeditions provided crucial groundwork for Wallace’s research into theories of natural selection and the origin of species – major topics being investigated by leading scientists in Britain at the time. 

Although Wallace did not have much of a scientific education – he left school at the age of 14 – he was a superb observer of nature, first as a land surveyor and then as a professional specimen collector.

Wallace’s lack of education, social connections or personal wealth meant he operated only on the fringes of the scientific community. Working from remote jungle locations, he wrote several small articles for academic journals before penning his first major contribution in 1855 which became known as the Sarawak Law.

His thinking may have been brilliant and his writing style concise, but the Sarawak Law (which laid the foundations for his revolutionary theory on the origin of the species two years later) was ignored by the entire academic community. Wallace was dismissed in whispered voices as 'a mere fly-catcher'.

When Wallace finally produced his ground-breaking work on evolution ahead of Charles Darwin, the well-established supporters of Darwin ensured Wallace was pushed to the sidelines and credited Darwin with coming up with the concept first.

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7th November 2008
meet the author @ Waterstone's Bookshop, Richmond, London

22nd November 2008
meet the author @ Linnean Society, Piccadilly, London

27th January 2009
meet the author @ Natural History Society, Northampton

February 2009 – 200th anniversary of birth of Charles Darwin

2nd February 2009
meet the author @ Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Bath

November 2009 – 150th anniversary of publication of On the Origin of Species in London