Pioneer in the scientific study of sex. Physician, eugenicist, writer, progressive intellectual and social reformer who studied human sexuality.
Born 1 St John's Grove (now Rectory Grove), Croydon as Henry Havelock Ellis, named after a distant relative, Sir Henry Havelock, who had died 2 years earlier. He dropped the Henry when he became an author. 1875 he was taken by his sea-faring father to Australia where he took on a number of teaching jobs. 1879 returned to London planning to study sexuality, for which he realised he needed medical training, and studied at St Thomas' Hospital. Died at home in Suffolk.
We chose this photograph from the wide selection available on the web. Ellis was clearly not camera shy and we think he was quite proud of his hirsuteness as well.
