Louis Leakey

Archeologist

Birthday August 7, 1903

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Kabete, Kenya

DEATH DATE Oct 1, 1972 (69)

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About

British archaeologist whose work in the Olduvai Gorge in Africa was important in establishing human evolutionary development. Despite being a devout Christian his science was nonetheless predicated on Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Before Fame

He was raised in the former British East Africa (which is now Kenya) by two Christian missionaries and his earliest home had a dirt floor, rodents, and a leaky roof.

Trivia

When Britain when to war in 1939 he was drafted by the Kenyan government to work in the African Intelligence Service, where he took on regular police investigations.

Family Life

He was married to and often worked with Mary Leakey, who made the noteworthy discovery of fossil footprints at Laetoli.

Associated With

He was a supporter of the radical ideas of Charles Darwin.