Wallace and natural selection, 1858

In the nineteenth century, Alfred Russel Wallace was generally acknowledged as one of the founders of evolutionary theory. But, during the twentieth century, his contributions came to be neglected as Darwin worship often replaced cogent historical assessment. This is a story worth studying. It shows how scientific advances are often simultaneously made by many different individuals working independently; these advances are as much products of their intellectual context as they are of individual genius or inspiration. The story also shows the power of social background and privilege within science (how Darwin managed to avoid being pre-empted by Wallace), how scientists compete for priority, and how future generations co-opt history to suit their own purposes.