Wilfrid Le Gros Clark

British anatomist and primatologist

Wilfrid Edward Le Gros Clark (1895–1971) was a prominent British anatomist and primatologist known for his contributions to the study of human evolution and primate anatomy. He played a significant role in the debunking of the Piltdown Man hoax and made substantial contributions to the understanding of the central nervous system.

Early life and education

Wilfrid Le Gros Clark was born on 28 June 1895 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. He was educated at Blundell's School and later attended St John's College, Cambridge, where he studied natural sciences. His education was interrupted by World War I, during which he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. After the war, he completed his medical studies at St Thomas' Hospital, London.

Career

Academic appointments

Le Gros Clark began his academic career as a lecturer in anatomy at St Thomas' Hospital Medical School. In 1934, he was appointed as the Professor of Anatomy at the University of Oxford, a position he held until his retirement in 1962. During his tenure at Oxford, he was instrumental in modernizing the teaching of anatomy and integrating it with the emerging field of neuroscience.

Research contributions

Le Gros Clark's CNS demonstration slides box

Le Gros Clark's research focused on the anatomy of the central nervous system and the evolutionary relationships between humans and other primates. He conducted extensive studies on the cerebral cortex and was one of the first to describe the detailed structure of the thalamus. His work laid the foundation for modern neuroanatomy and contributed to the understanding of brain function.

He was also involved in the study of fossil hominids and played a key role in the analysis of the Piltdown Man remains, which were later revealed to be a hoax. His critical examination of the fossils helped to expose the fraudulent nature of the Piltdown Man, which had misled the scientific community for decades.

Primatology

Le Gros Clark was a pioneer in the field of primatology, studying the anatomy and behavior of non-human primates. His work on the comparative anatomy of primates provided insights into the evolutionary pathways that led to the development of modern humans. He emphasized the importance of studying living primates to understand human evolution.

Honors and legacy

Le Gros Clark was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1935 in recognition of his contributions to science. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Royal Medal in 1961. His legacy continues to influence the fields of anatomy, primatology, and evolutionary biology.

Related pages

• Anatomy
• Primatology
• Human evolution
• Piltdown Man
• Neuroscience