Galton

Galton is a name associated with several notable individuals and concepts, primarily in the fields of science, statistics, and geography. The most prominent figure associated with this name is Francis Galton, a polymath who made significant contributions to various scientific disciplines.

Francis Galton

Francis Galton (1822–1911) was an English Victorian polymath, statistician, psychologist, anthropologist, eugenicist, geographer, inventor, and meteorologist. He was a half-cousin of Charles Darwin and is best known for his pioneering work in eugenics and biometrics.

Contributions

• Eugenics: Galton coined the term "eugenics" and was a proponent of improving the genetic quality of the human population.
• Biometrics: He developed statistical methods to study human differences and inheritance of intelligence.
• Fingerprinting: Galton's work in fingerprinting laid the foundation for its use in forensic science.
• Meteorology: He made significant contributions to the field of meteorology, including the development of the first weather maps.
• Geography: Galton's explorations and geographical studies contributed to the understanding of Africa.

Galton Board

The Galton board, also known as the bean machine or quincunx, is a device invented by Francis Galton to demonstrate the central limit theorem and the normal distribution. It consists of a vertical board with interleaved rows of pegs, where balls dropped from the top bounce randomly left or right as they hit the pegs, eventually accumulating in bins at the bottom to form a bell curve.

Galton's Law of Inheritance

Galton's law of inheritance is a theory of heredity that suggests that an individual's traits are determined by the traits of their ancestors, with a specific emphasis on the contributions of parents and grandparents.

Related Pages

• Francis Galton
• Eugenics
• Biometrics
• Fingerprinting
• Meteorology
• Geography
• Central limit theorem
• Normal distribution
• Heredity