Wilfrid Le Gros Clark

Le Gros Clarks CNS demonstration slides box

Wilfrid Le Gros Clark (1895–1971) was a prominent British anatomist, primatologist, and paleoanthropologist. He played a significant role in the study of human evolution and is best known for his work on the Piltdown Man hoax and his contributions to the understanding of the Hominidae family's evolutionary history.

Early Life and Education

Wilfrid Edward Le Gros Clark was born on June 5, 1895, in London, England. He pursued his education in medicine at St Thomas' Hospital Medical School, London, where he developed a keen interest in anatomy. After serving in the First World War, he completed his medical degree and subsequently focused on research in anatomy.

Career

Le Gros Clark's academic career was distinguished and varied. He held teaching positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Oxford, where he was a professor of anatomy. His research interests were broad, encompassing comparative anatomy, primatology, and paleoanthropology.

One of Le Gros Clark's significant contributions to science was his involvement in exposing the Piltdown Man as a hoax. In 1953, together with Kenneth Oakley and Joseph Weiner, he provided conclusive evidence that the Piltdown fossils were a composite of human and orangutan bones, thus ending decades of speculation about the find's authenticity.

In addition to his work on the Piltdown Man, Le Gros Clark made substantial contributions to the understanding of primate anatomy and human evolution. His studies on the brain and sensory systems of primates helped bridge the gap between humans and other primates, highlighting the evolutionary relationships within the Hominidae family.

Legacy

Wilfrid Le Gros Clark's legacy in the fields of anatomy and paleoanthropology is enduring. His textbooks, such as The Fossil Evidence for Human Evolution and The Antecedents of Man, remain influential works in the study of human origins. His approach to comparative anatomy and his insights into primate evolution have shaped the direction of research in these fields for subsequent generations.

Le Gros Clark was also instrumental in the establishment of the Subdepartment of Human Anatomy at the University of Oxford, a testament to his commitment to advancing the study of anatomy and anthropology.

Death and Honors

Wilfrid Le Gros Clark passed away on June 28, 1971. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades for his contributions to science, including election to the Royal Society in 1941. His work continues to be celebrated for its impact on our understanding of human evolution and the natural world.

Selected Works

• The Fossil Evidence for Human Evolution (1955)
• The Antecedents of Man: An Introduction to the Evolution of the Primates (1959)

See Also

• Human evolution
• Comparative anatomy
• Primatology
• Piltdown Man