Thomas H. Huxley

Thomas H. Huxley (1824-1895) was an English biologist, the strongest of the early proponents of Charles Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. He was so vociferous in his defense that he earned the nickname "Darwin's Bulldog."

Huxley was one of the most respected scientists of his age, a genuine Renaissance Man. He published his first scientific paper—describing the layer of the hair named for him—at the age of 19 ! Later in life he became concerned with practical and useful education, and his ideas were embodied in several books, including Technical Education. Therein he expressed the view that, "The great end of life is not knowledge, but action." A member of the Royal Society, he was also one of the founders of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

Sir Thomas Huxley was the grandfather of the eminent 20th Century biologist Sir Julian Huxley and of Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World.

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