Francis Galton
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About
English scientist, explorer, and anthropologist who coined the term "eugenics" in the year 1883. He often argued for selective human breeding. His book Hereditary Genius from the year 1869 explored the inheritance of abilities.
Before fame
He was a child prodigy and by the age of six he was reading William Shakespeare.
Trivia
He popularised the phrase "nature versus nurture." He researched the power of prayer and found there was no scientific basis. He invented the Galton whistle for testing hearing and prepared the first weather map. His ideas influenced involuntary sterilization laws in the United States and Nazi Germany's policies.
Family life
He was a half-cousin of Charles Darwin. He married Louisa Jane Butler in 1853. They had no children.
Associated with
Adolf Hitler was influenced by eugenics writings, and referred to American eugenics in his book Mein Kampf.
