Alfred R. Wallace

Alfred R. Wallace was a 19th-century British naturalist and explorer who independently developed ideas about evolution, notably proposing natural selection—the idea that species evolve over time through survival and reproduction advantages. He is best known for co-developing the theory of evolution alongside Charles Darwin. Wallace's work also contributed to understanding biogeography—the distribution of species across regions. His insights helped shape modern evolutionary biology, and he recognized the importance of environmental pressures in driving species change. Despite sharing credit with Darwin, Wallace distinguished himself through extensive fieldwork and a strong commitment to scientific inquiry.