Who was Thomas Henry Huxley? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In May

Also Known As: T. H. Huxley, Huxley

Died At Age: 70

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Henrietta Anne Heathorn

father: George Huxley

mother: Rachel Withers

children: Leonard Huxley, Marian Huxley Collier

Biologists Anthropologists

Died on: June 29, 1895

place of death: Eastbourne, Sussex, England

Notable Alumni: Charing Cross Medical School

City: Ealing, England

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

More Facts

education: University College London, Charing Cross Medical School

awards: 1888 - Copley Medal
1852 - Royal Medal
1890 - Linnean Medal

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1

What were Thomas Henry Huxley's major contributions to science?

Thomas Henry Huxley was a prominent advocate for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection. He coined the term "agnostic" and made significant contributions to the fields of comparative anatomy and paleontology.
2

How did Thomas Henry Huxley influence the field of education?

Thomas Henry Huxley was a strong advocate for scientific education and played a key role in the development of modern science education in England. He believed in the importance of teaching scientific principles to the general public.
3

What was Thomas Henry Huxley's stance on religion?

Thomas Henry Huxley was known for his agnostic views on religion. He believed that it was important to base beliefs on evidence and reason, rather than blind faith.
4

Did Thomas Henry Huxley have any notable debates with other scientists or philosophers?

Thomas Henry Huxley engaged in several famous debates, most notably with Bishop Samuel Wilberforce on the topic of evolution at the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in 1860.
5

How did Thomas Henry Huxley impact the field of ethics and morality?

Thomas Henry Huxley's work on evolution and ethics explored the connections between science and morality. He believed that ethical principles should be based on reason and human welfare rather than religious doctrine.

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Childhood & Early Life

Thomas Henry Huxley was born in Ealing, Middlesex to George, a mathematics teacher at Ealing School and Rachel Withers. He was the second youngest of the eight children.

At the age of ten, he had to leave school because his family was put into financial difficulties following the closure of Ealing School. He began to educate himself and became an expert on invertebrates.

In 1838, he was taken for short periods as apprentice to several medical practitioners. While working as an apprentice to Thomas Chandler, a pioneer in mesmerism, and John Salt, he continued his reading.

In 1841, he joined the Sydenham College and won a silver medal in the Apothecaries' yearly competition. He then entered Charing Cross Hospital to pursue his education, where he got a scholarship.

He appeared in his first M.B examination at the University of London and earned gold medals in anatomy and physiology. However, he failed to appear for his second exams and therefore did not get a degree.

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Career

He applied for an appointment in the Royal Navy in 1845. His apprenticeships and exam results formed a sufficient basis for his application and he became Assistant Surgeon on HMS Rattlesnake.

The Rattlesnake started from England in 1846 on a voyage to New Guinea and Australia. He sent his discoveries, based on his study of marine invertebrates, to Edward Forbes, his mentor, to get them published.

His paper, ‘On the Anatomy and the Affinities of the Family of Medusae’, published in 1849, united the Hydroid and Sertularian polyps with the Medusae to form a class which he named ‘Hydrozoa’.

After he returned to England in 1850, in recognition of his work, he was selected a ‘Fellow of the Royal Society’ and met lifelong friends Joseph Dalton Hooker and John Tyndall.

The Navy retained him so that he could study the specimens collected during his voyage. In 1851, he showed that Appendicularia and Ascidians are both tunicates and related to the vertebrates in the phylum Chordata.

In 1854, while serving as the professor of natural history at the Royal School of Mines, his work included vertebrate paleontology and many projects to advance the place of science in British life.

He gave six lectures at the Royal School of Mines in 1855, expressing hope that the working classes understand that science and her ways are great facts for them and that they must be obeyed.

In the Oxford Evolution debate, 1860, he argued in favor of the theory of evolution while Bishop Samuel Wilberforce denounced the theory. The debate was considered a victory for Darwinian ideas and scientific thinking.

In 1864, he launched a dining club, the ‘X Club’ consisting of his closest friends, to work towards the cause of science. Guests such as Charles Darwin visited the club sometimes.

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His lecture ‘On a Piece of Chalk’ in 1868 to the working class of Norwich served as a basis for other scientists who explained the process of life development on earth.

Between 1855 and 1890, he was a Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons, President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, of the Royal Society and of the Marine Biological Association.

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Major Works

In his famous essay, ‘On the Physical Basis of Life’, 1869, Huxley insisted that life and even thought were at bottom of molecular phenomena. He invented the word ‘agnostic’ to express his theological position.

In 1893, his ‘Collected Essays’ was published in nine volumes including, ‘Method and Results’, ‘Darwiniana’, ‘Science and Education’, ‘Science and Hebrew Tradition and Christian Tradition’, and ‘Evolution and Ethics and Other Essays’.

Awards & Achievements

A Fellow of the Royal Society, he was awarded the Royal Medal in 1852, the youngest to receive such a recognition.

Between 1876 and 1894, he was awarded the Copley Medal, the Darwin Medal, the Geological Society’s Wollaston Medal, and the Linnean Medal for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history.

He was conferred with doctorates and awards for his public services and appointed the Privy Councilor in 1892, while the King of Sweden made him a Knight of the Order of the Polar Star.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1855, Thomas Huxley married Henrietta Anne Heathorn whom he had met in Sydney. The couple had five daughters and three sons. His oldest son, Noel, died at the age of four.

Biographers have noted that many members of his family, including the biologist’s father, brothers and a daughter suffered from mental illnesses. He himself suffered from depression while on HMS Rattlesnake.

He died of a heart attack in 1895.

Facts About Thomas Henry Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley was known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his fierce defense of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

He was a self-taught naturalist and anatomist, with no formal scientific training.

Huxley coined the term "agnostic" to describe his philosophical position of skepticism towards religious claims about the supernatural.

He was a talented artist and frequently used his illustrations to communicate scientific concepts.

Huxley was a strong advocate for education reform and played a key role in the development of science education in England.

Thomas Henry Huxley Biography

You wanted to know

What were Thomas Henry Huxley's major contributions to science?

How did Thomas Henry Huxley influence the field of education?

What was Thomas Henry Huxley's stance on religion?

Did Thomas Henry Huxley have any notable debates with other scientists or philosophers?

How did Thomas Henry Huxley impact the field of ethics and morality?