Editing Alfred Russel Wallace (section)

== Legacy and historical perception ==

=== Honours ===
[[File:Alfred Russel Wallace - Project Gutenberg eText 14558.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Wallace and his signature on the frontispiece of ''[[Darwinism (book)|Darwinism]]'' (1889)|alt=frontispiece of one of Wallace's books]]

As a result of his writing, Wallace became a well-known figure both as a scientist and as a social activist, and was often sought out for his views.{{sfn|Shermer|2002|pp=292–294}} He became president of the anthropology section of the [[British Association]] in 1866,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/S120.htm|title=Anthropology at the British Association (S120: 1866) |last=Wallace |first=Alfred Russel |website=The Alfred Russel Wallace Page |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> and of the [[Entomological Society of London]] in 1870.<ref name=eb1911/> He was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 1873.<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?year=1873;year-max=1873;smode=advanced;f1-mem=International |access-date=12 September 2022 |website=search.amphilsoc.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501233158/https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?year=1873;year-max=1873;smode=advanced;f1-mem=International |archive-date=1 May 2021}}</ref> The British Association elected him as head of its biology section in 1876.<ref name="chronology">{{cite web |title=Chronology of the Main Events in Wallace's Life |url=http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/chronol.htm |publisher=The Alfred Russel Wallace Page |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref> He was elected to the Royal Society in 1893.<ref name="chronology"/> He was asked to chair the International Congress of Spiritualists meeting in London in 1898.{{sfn|Slotten|2004|p=454}} He received honorary doctorates and professional honours, such the [[Royal Society]]'s [[Royal Medal]] in 1868 and its [[Darwin Medal]] in 1890,<ref name=eb1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Wallace, Alfred Russel}}</ref> and the [[Order of Merit]] in 1908.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28194 |supp=y |page=8162 |date=9 November 1908}}</ref>

=== Obscurity and rehabilitation ===
Wallace's fame faded quickly after his death. For a long time, he was treated as a relatively obscure figure in the history of science.{{sfn|Slotten|2004|p=6}} Reasons for this lack of attention may have included his modesty, his willingness to champion unpopular causes without regard for his own reputation, and the discomfort of much of the scientific community with some of his unconventional ideas.<ref name="Laserna">{{cite book |last=Laserna |first=David Blanco |date=2016 |title=La evolución, el fenómeno más complejo del universo |trans-title=Evolution, the most complex process of the universe |language=Spanish |publisher=RBA |isbn=978-84-473-8675-8 |page=11}}</ref> The reason that the theory of evolution is popularly credited to Darwin is likely the impact of Darwin's ''On the Origin of Species''.<ref name="Laserna"/>

Recently, Wallace has become better known, with the publication of at least five book-length biographies and two anthologies of his writings published since 2000.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rosen |first=Jonathan |title=Missing Link: Alfred Russel Wallace, Charles Darwin's neglected double |journal=New Yorker |date=4 February 2007 |pages=76–81 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2007/02/12/070212crat_atlarge_rosen |publisher=The New Yorker Feb 2007|pmid=17323543 |access-date=25 April 2007}}</ref> A web page dedicated to Wallace scholarship is maintained at [[Western Kentucky University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Alfred Russel Wallace Page |url=http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/index1.htm |publisher=hosted by Western Kentucky University |access-date=13 May 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070523065328/http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/index1.htm| archive-date= 23 May 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In a 2010 book, the environmentalist [[Tim Flannery]] argued that Wallace was "the first modern scientist to comprehend how essential cooperation is to our survival", and suggested that Wallace's understanding of natural selection and his later work on the atmosphere should be seen as a forerunner to modern ecological thinking.{{sfn|Flannery|2010|p=32}} A collection of his medals, including the Order of Merit, were sold at auction for £273,000 in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Hartland |title=Evolution guru's medals auctioned for £273,000 |publisher=Monmouthshire Beacon |page=9 |date=10 August 2022 }}</ref>

=== Centenary celebrations ===
{{main|Alfred Russel Wallace centenary}}

[[File:Bronze statue of Alfred Russel Wallace.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Anthony Smith (sculptor)|Anthony Smith's]] statue of Wallace, looking up at a bronze model of a [[Ornithoptera croesus|Wallace's golden birdwing butterfly]]. Natural History Museum, London, unveiled 7 November 2013.|alt=photograph of a statue of Wallace in London]]

The [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]], London, co-ordinated [[Alfred Russel Wallace centenary|commemorative events for the Wallace centenary]] worldwide in the 'Wallace100' project in 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jan/20/alfred-russel-wallace-forgotten-man-evolution | title=Alfred Russel Wallace, the forgotten man of evolution, gets his moment | newspaper=The Guardian | date=20 January 2013 | access-date=6 October 2013 | author=McKie, Robin}}</ref><ref name=NHM>{{cite web | url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/wallace/index.html | title=Wallace100 – celebrating Alfred Russel Wallace's life and legacy | publisher=Natural History Museum | year=2013 | access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref> On 24 January, his portrait was unveiled in the Main Hall of the museum by [[Bill Bailey]], a fervent admirer.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jan/20/alfred-russel-wallace-forgotten-man-evolution "Alfred Russel Wallace, the forgotten man of evolution, gets his moment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031163210/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jan/20/alfred-russel-wallace-forgotten-man-evolution |date=31 October 2022 }} ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 3 May 2013.</ref> Bailey further championed Wallace in his 2013 [[BBC Two]] series "Bill Bailey's Jungle Hero".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/posts/Bill-Baileys-Jungle-Hero-An-audience-with-the-Sultan Bill Bailey's Jungle Hero: An audience with the sultan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031163218/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/entries/42aee192-d20c-3109-b7a9-19d3c5787b7e |date=31 October 2022 }} ''BBC TV Blog''. Retrieved 3 May 2013.</ref> On 7 November 2013, the 100th anniversary of Wallace's death, Sir [[David Attenborough]] unveiled a statue of Wallace at the museum.<ref>[http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2013/november/sir-david-attenborough-unveils-wallace-statue125452.html Natural History Museum: David Attenborough unveils Wallace Statue] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113140230/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2013/november/sir-david-attenborough-unveils-wallace-statue125452.html |date=13 November 2013 }}. Retrieved 13 November 2013.</ref> The statue, sculpted by [[Anthony Smith (sculptor)|Anthony Smith]], was donated by the A. R. Wallace Memorial Fund.<ref>[https://wallacefund.myspecies.info/bronze-statue-wallace "Bronze statue of Wallace"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204225020/https://wallacefund.myspecies.info/bronze-statue-wallace |date=4 February 2022 }}. Retrieved 10 January 2014.</ref> It depicts Wallace as a young man, collecting in the jungle. November 2013 marked the debut of ''The Animated Life of A. R. Wallace'', a paper-puppet animation film dedicated to Wallace's centennial.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|last1=Lichtman|first1=Flora|title=The Animated Life of A.R. Wallace|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/opinion/the-animated-life-of-ar-wallace.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/opinion/the-animated-life-of-ar-wallace.html |archive-date=1 January 2022 |url-access=limited|newspaper=The New York Times|date=5 November 2013|access-date=27 June 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In addition, Bailey unveiled a bust of Wallace, sculpted by Felicity Crawley, in Twyn Square in [[Usk]], Monmouthshire in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/comedian-to-unveil-bronze-bust-of-famous-son-wallace-75960 |first=Nick |last=Hartland |title=Comedian to unveil bust of famous son Wallace |work=Abergavenny Chronicle |date=6 November 2021 |access-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811063826/https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/comedian-to-unveil-bronze-bust-of-famous-son-wallace-75960 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Bicentenary celebrations ===

Commemorations of the 200th anniversary of Wallace's birth celebrated during the course of 2023 range from naturalist walk events<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manoj |first=E. M. |date=2023-01-12 |title=Bicentenary celebrations of 'forgotten' father of evolution begin in Wayanad |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/bicentenary-celebrations-of-forgotten-father-of-evolution-begin-in-wayanad/article66370545.ece |access-date=2023-02-12}}</ref> to scientific congresses and presentations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beccaloni |first=George |date=2022-12-02 |title=Events, Books etc to Commemorate the 200th Anniversary of Wallace's Birth in 2023 |url=https://wallacefund.myspecies.info/content/events-books-etc-commemorate-200th-anniversary-wallaces-birth-2023 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=The Alfred Russel Wallace Website}}</ref> A [[Harvard Museum of Natural History]] event in April 2023 will also include a [[Bartender|mixologist]]-designed special cocktail to honor Wallace's legacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Andrew |date=2023-02-12 |title=Darwin Day Talk: How Science Works: Darwin, Wallace, and Evolution |url=https://www.meetup.com/greaterbostonhumanists/events/290814767/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Meetup}}</ref>

=== Memorials ===
[[Mount Wallace (Fresno and Inyo counties, California)|Mount Wallace]] in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range was named in his honour in 1895.<ref>Browning, Peter, ''Place Names of the Sierra Nevada From Abbot to Zumwalt'', 1986, Wilderness Press, {{ISBN|9780899970479}}.</ref> In 1928, a [[House system|house]] at Richard Hale School (then called Hertford Grammar School, where he had been a pupil) was named after Wallace.<ref name="fun facts">{{cite web|title=Just for Fun |url=http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/just.htm |publisher=The Alfred Russel Wallace Page |access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="other things"/> The Alfred Russel Wallace building is a prominent feature of the Glyntaff campus at the [[University of South Wales]], by [[Pontypridd]], with several teaching spaces and laboratories for science courses. The [[Wallace Building, Swansea|Natural Sciences Building]] at Swansea University and lecture theatre at Cardiff University are named after him,<ref name="other things">{{cite web |title=Other things named after Wallace |url=http://wallacefund.info/other-things-named-after-wallace |publisher=The Alfred Russel Wallace Website |access-date=30 November 2015 |archive-date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627165434/http://wallacefund.info/other-things-named-after-wallace |url-status=dead }}</ref> as are [[impact crater]]s on Mars and the [[Moon]].<ref name="fun facts"/> In 1986, the [[Royal Entomological Society]] mounted a year-long expedition to the [[Dumoga-Bone National Park]] in North Sulawesi named Project Wallace.<ref name="other things"/> A group of Indonesian islands is known as the [[Wallacea]] biogeographical region in his honour, and Operation Wallacea, named after the region, awards "Alfred Russel Wallace Grants" to undergraduate ecology students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alfred Russel Wallace Grants |url=http://opwall.com/about-us/alfred-russel-wallace-grants/ |publisher=Operation Wallacea |access-date=22 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123092245/http://opwall.com/about-us/alfred-russel-wallace-grants/ |archive-date=23 November 2015}}</ref> Several hundred species of plants and animals, both living and fossil, have been named after Wallace,<ref>{{cite web |last=Beccaloni |first=H. |date=October 2017 |title=Plants and animals named after Wallace |url=http://wallacefund.info/plants-and-animals-named-after-wallace |publisher=The Alfred Russel Wallace Website |access-date=26 October 2017 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131013833/http://wallacefund.info/plants-and-animals-named-after-wallace |url-status=dead }}</ref> such as the gecko ''[[Cyrtodactylus wallacei]]'',<ref>Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. ("Wallace", p. 279).</ref> and the freshwater stingray ''[[Potamotrygon]] wallacei''.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Carvalho, M.R.d. |author2=Rosa, R.S.|author3=Araújo, M.L.G. |year=2016 |title=A new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) from the Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil: the smallest species of Potamotrygon |journal=Zootaxa |volume=4107 |issue=4 |pages=566–586 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4107.4.5 |pmid=27394840 }}</ref> More recently, several new species have been named during the bicentenary year of Wallace's birth, including a large [[spider]] from [[Peru]], ''Linothele wallacei'' Sherwood ''et al''., 2023<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Sherwood, D. |author2=Drolshagen, B. |author3=Osorio, L. V. |author4=Benavides, L. |author5=Seiter, M. |year=2023 |title=An inordinate fondness for spinnerets: on some spiders of the genera Diplura C. L. Koch, 1850 and Linothele Karsch, 1879 with new species, records, and notes on types (Araneae: Dipluridae) |journal=ZooNova |volume=29 |pages=1–22 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375863887}}</ref> and a [[South Africa]]n [[weevil]], ''Nama wallacei'' Meregalli & Borovec, 2023.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Meregalli, M. |author2=Borovec, R. |year=2023 |title=The genus Nama, with the description of 14 new species (Curculionidae, Entiminae, Namaini) |journal=Diversity |volume=15  |issue=8 |pages=944|doi=10.3390/d15080944 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2023Diver..15..944M }}</ref>