Thomas Henry Huxley

4 May 1825 – 29 June 1895

Thomas Henry Huxley was an English biologist and anthropologist known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his vigorous public defense of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Largely self-taught, he became a leading comparative anatomist, coined the term "agnostic", and championed science education in Britain.

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Life events

Born in Ealing, England
4 May 1825

Thomas Henry Huxley was born above a butcher's shop in Ealing, then a village west of London, and received only two years of formal schooling.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Studied medicine at Charing Cross Hospital
1842

Huxley won a scholarship to study medicine at Charing Cross Hospital, where he excelled in anatomy and physiology.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Voyage of HMS Rattlesnake as assistant surgeon
1846 – 1850

Huxley served aboard HMS Rattlesnake surveying Australian and New Guinea waters, conducting pioneering studies of marine invertebrates.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Elected Fellow of the Royal Society at age 25
1851

Huxley was elected to the Royal Society on the strength of his marine zoology papers from the Rattlesnake voyage.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed lecturer at the Royal School of Mines
1854

Huxley became lecturer in natural history at the Royal School of Mines in London, beginning a three-decade teaching career there.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Henrietta Anne Heathorn
1855

Huxley married Henrietta Heathorn, whom he had met in Sydney during the Rattlesnake voyage; they had eight children.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Debated evolution with Bishop Samuel Wilberforce at Oxford
30 June 1860

At the British Association meeting in Oxford, Huxley famously defended Darwin's theory of evolution against Bishop Wilberforce.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature
1863

Huxley's book was the first to apply evolutionary theory explicitly to humans, comparing human and ape anatomy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Served as President of the Royal Society
1883 – 1885

Huxley presided over the Royal Society, capping a career of scientific leadership and administration.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Eastbourne, England
29 June 1895

Huxley died of a heart attack at age 70 after suffering from influenza and bronchitis.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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