Voting Station

Alfred Russel Wallace

Please vote to return to collections.

Scientist

The Resume

    (January 8, 1823-November 7, 1913)
    Born in Usk, Wales, United Kingdom
    Naturalist and explorer
    Father of biogeography (the geographical distribution of animal species)
    Wrote 'Travels on the Amazon' (1853), 'The Malay Archipelago' (1869), 'The Geographical Distribution of Animals' (1876), 'Island Life' (1880) and 'The Revolt of Democracy' (1913)
    Developed the theory of evolution through natural selection independently of Charles Darwin

Why he might be annoying:

    He was overshadowed by Darwin.
    He earned a small fortune selling animal specimens from Indonesia, then lost it in a series of bad investments.
    He campaigned against mandatory vaccinations.
    He attended seances and became a lifelong advocate for spiritualism no matter how often mediums were caught in fraud.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Returning from Brazil, his ship caught fire, and he and the crew spent ten days in an open boat before being rescued (1852).
    He discovered over a thousand new species of animals in Indonesia.
    His letter to Darwin outlining evolution through natural selection prompted Darwin to publish 'On the Origin of Species.'
    His anti-vaccination campaign prompted changes to improve safety.
    Joseph Conrad praised 'The Malay Archipelago' as his 'favorite bedside companion' and used it as a source of information for the novel 'Lord Jim.'
    Unlike many scientists of his day, he opposed social Darwinism and eugenics.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 124 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 66 Votes: 65.15% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 26.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 49 Votes: 61.22% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 32 Votes: 43.75% Annoying