Re: News: Welsh unsung pioneer of evolution theory.

On Feb 15, 1:53 am, Ye Old One <use...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Welsh unsung pioneer of evolution theory

Feb 14 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/feature-news/2008/02/14/welsh-uns...

Think about 'evolution' and you will likely think about Charles
Darwin. But Welsh scientist Alfred Wallace should also come to mind,
says Mike Green

CHARLES DARWIN'S journey to the Galapagos and the discoveries he made
there are well documented.

At the same time on the other side of the world Alfred Wallace was
building up a dossier on evolution in South-East Asia. Furthermore, it
was through direct correspondence with Wallace, in late 1857, that
Darwin realised he was in danger of having his priority usurped,
leading him to publish his research, after years of procrastination.

Wallace was born in Llanbadoc, Monmouthshire, on January 8, 1823, the
second youngest of nine children of solicitor Thomas Vere Wallace and
his wife Mary.

Just like Darwin, he gained an interest in nature from an early age.
For a while he earned a living as a land surveyor in the Neath Valley,
before the allure of seeing the wildlife of distant lands became too
great. Leaving British shores in mid-1848, he embarked on a series of
scientific expeditions taking him from the depths of the Amazon rain
forest to the jungles of Borneo.

During the course of his travels Wallace suffered no end of ill
fortune. He was blighted with countless illnesses, was shipwrecked, he
witnessed the death of a sibling (his younger brother who joined him
on one voyage was taken by yellow fever), and he was almost maimed
(one of his party accidentally shot him in the hand).

From examining the flora and fauna, Wallace eventually deduced that
species were not fixed, but adapted to suit the environment around
them. He wrote to Darwin to see whether his conclusions seemed sound.

By the time he heard of Wallace's progress, Darwin had produced a
well-defined mechanism for describing how different species developed,
but worried about the religious implications (as this seemed to
contradict the version in Genesis in the Bible) and the backlash he
and his family might endure, he chose to hide his findings. With the
realisation that his life's work would be jeopardised by Wallace's
discovery, he set about announcing his theory to the world in 1858.

Unfortunately the Welshman was considered a mere amateur, demanding
little respect from scientific peers. Darwin, on the other hand, as a
member of the establishment, commanded much greater authority.

Is it fair to say that Darwin acted ungentlemanly by taking the vast
majority of the acclaim? I don't think so. Darwin just sought to
protect his own interests, like anyone would have done. He had put
years of toil and personal sacrifice into preparing this theory, after
all. That said, Wallace showed incredible generosity in not trying to
secure a greater share of glory for himself.

To some degree Wallace and Darwin needed each other. They could not
have got the job done in isolation. Wallace lacked the scientific
credibility to get evolutionary theory accepted on his own. Likewise,
Wallace acted as a catalyst, forcing Darwin to take action.

Though not blessed with the universal acclaim of his counterpart,
Wallace did not die embittered. As far as can be ascertained, he was
content with playing a part in the process of informing the masses
about evolution.

Although history has almost totally forgotten Wallace, he was one of
the most important figures of the Victorian era, and his deeds
irrevocably changed the face of science. There is little doubt he had
as equal influence as Darwin in the formation of evolutionary theory.
It seems fair therefore that he should receive some of the
recognition.

Wallace's story is featured in Cardiff author Mike Green's book The
Nearly Men, which investigates the dark side of innovation. It
examines some of the most important inventions and scientific
discoveries of the past 400 years, and attempts to uncover the stories
of deceit and misfortune behind each of them. The Nearly Men
(published by Tempus) is available from Amazon, WH Smith, Foyles,
Borders and Blackwell

Tales of treachery at the Royal Society
Following the release of his book The Nearly Men, Mike Green has been
asked to speak at the Royal Society.

Green will give a lunchtime lecture on Friday, March 14, in which he
will discuss the bitter rivalries, tales of treachery and deceit
behind the inventions and scientific discoveries which defined the
modern age.

The lecture starts at 1pm and is open to the public, as well as to
society members.

The Royal Society in London has been in existence for more than 300
years.

It is one of Britain's most highly regarded scientific establishments.
Its membership has included such illustrious names as Isaac Newton,
Charles Darwin, Christopher Wren, and Lord Kelvin.

The lecture, at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, is free, but
bookings are required. To reserve a place, email
libr...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or telephone on 020 7451 2606.

Green expects to publish his second book, which looks at the
long-running conflict between science and religion, in the early
autumn.
--
Bob.

Nearly men? What about the nearly women? Rosalind Franklin, probably
the most scandalous Nobel loser, springs to mind.





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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Something you may not know.
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  • Re: Something you may not know.
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  • Re: Something you may not know.
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