Who On Earth Was Alfred Russel Wallace?
Poole Museum will have the answer to this question on Saturday March 7, 2009 when it hosts a talk about the life of this hugely respected naturalist. The talk, jointly organised with Poole Museum Society, will form part of nationwide celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Darwin’s name is synonymous with one of the most groundbreaking ideas of all time – natural selection. However, not one but two scientists were responsible for the theory – Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. Wallace was once world famous for his contribution to evolutionary theory, so much so that at the time the idea was often referred to as the Darwin-Wallace theory. Although Welsh by birth, Wallace spent the last 24 years of his life in Poole, publishing books and articles right up until his death, at home in Broadstone, aged 90. The talk, delivered by Councillor Mike Brooke, ward member for Broadstone, will tell Wallace’s story and discuss his contribution to science. Last year C
