Person    | Male  Born 4/5/1825  Died 29/6/1895

Thomas Huxley

Categories: Education, Race Issues, Science

Thomas Henry Huxley. Biologist and anthropologist. Born Ealing. An early adherent to Darwin's theory of evolution, he was a strong supporter while also pointing out what he saw as flaws. At the Royal College of Science (which would later become Imperial College): Professor of Biology 1854 -95, the first Dean of the College 1881-95. His son Leonard (author) was father to: Sir Julian (biologist), Aldous (author) and Sir Andrew (physicist). Bonus fact: two of Thomas's daughters married the same man. Died at home in Eastbourne.

2021: The Guardian reported that Imperial College's independent history group investigated the college's historical links to the British empire. The subsequent report called for a building at the college named after Huxley,  to be renamed due to his racist beliefs about human intelligence. The report said Huxley’s essay Emancipation – Black and White “espouses a racial hierarchy of intelligence, a belief system of ‘scientific racism’ that fed the dangerous and false ideology of eugenics; legacies of which are still felt today”.  The report also called for a bust of Huxley to be removed from display and placed in the college archives.

2022: the Imperial College Huxley debate continued. A letter from 39 leading scientists was published in the Telegraph, arguing the case for a more nuanced assessment of Huxley's achievements over his whole career.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Thomas Huxley

Commemorated ati

Thomas Huxley - NW8

Thomas Henry Huxley, 1825 - 1895, biologist, lived here. LCC

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Thomas Huxley - SW7

This building is known as the Huxley Building of the Royal College of Science...

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Worshipful Company of Skinners

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University of London External System

University of London External System

Distance learning, now known as 'International Programmes'.

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Lady Margaret Macdonald Casson

Lady Margaret Macdonald Casson

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Trinity School of John Whitgift

Trinity School of John Whitgift

Part of the Whitgift Foundation, founded by John Whitgift. Formerly known as the Whitgift Middle School, it was renamed in 1954, reflecting the school's increasing equality with Whitgift School. It...

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St Dunstan's College

St Dunstan's College

In 1466 the school attached to the church of St Dunstan in the East was one of the five recognised grammar schools in the City of London. In 1888 this boys independent school was moved out to Catfo...

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