Edward O. Wilson

American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)
Person human Q211029
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Edward O. Wilson

Summary

Edward O. Wilson is a human[1]. He was born in Birmingham[2]. He passed away in Burlington[3]. He worked as an entomologist[4], sociobiologist[5], novelist[6], ethologist[7], and autobiographer[8]. He has Wikipedia articles in 26 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[9]

Key Facts

  • Born in Birmingham[2], Edward O. Wilson…
  • Edward O. Wilson died in Burlington[3].
  • Burial took place at Westview Cemetery[10].
  • Edward O. Wilson held citizenship in United States[11].
  • Edward O. Wilson's professions included entomologist[4].
  • Edward O. Wilson's professions included sociobiologist[5].
  • Edward O. Wilson worked as a novelist[6].
  • Edward O. Wilson's professions included ethologist[7].
  • Edward O. Wilson's professions included autobiographer[8].
  • Edward O. Wilson worked as a naturalist[12].
  • Edward O. Wilson's field of work was myrmecology[13].
  • Edward O. Wilson's field of work was sociobiology[14].
  • Edward O. Wilson's field of work was natural science[15].
  • Edward O. Wilson's field of work was zoology[16].
  • Edward O. Wilson's field of work was entomology[17].
  • Edward O. Wilson's field of work was biodiversity[18].
  • Edward O. Wilson was employed by Harvard University[19].
  • Edward O. Wilson was educated at Harvard University[20].
  • Edward O. Wilson's education included a stint at University of Alabama[21].
  • Edward O. Wilson's doctoral advisor was Frank M. Carpenter[22].
  • Edward O. Wilson received the Guggenheim Fellowship[23].
  • Edward O. Wilson received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction[24].
  • Edward O. Wilson received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction[25].
  • Edward O. Wilson received the Humanist of the Year[26].
  • Edward O. Wilson received the William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Edward O. Wilson's place of birth was Birmingham[2].

Education

Educated at Harvard University[20], a private university[28], in United States[29], founded in 1636[30], headquartered in Cambridge[31] and University of Alabama[21], a public university[32], in United States[33], founded in 1831[34], headquartered in Tuscaloosa[35]. Edward O. Wilson's doctoral advisor was Frank M. Carpenter[22].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include entomologist[4], sociobiologist[5], novelist[6], ethologist[7], autobiographer[8], and naturalist[12]. Fields of work include myrmecology[13], a branch of zoology[36]; sociobiology[14], an academic discipline[37]; natural science[15]; zoology[16], a branch of biology[38]; entomology[17], a branch of zoology[39]; and biodiversity[18], a scientific concept[40]. Among Edward O. Wilson's employers was Harvard University[19]. Doctoral students include Daniel Simberloff[41], Donald J. Farish[42], Corrie Moreau[43], William H. Bossert[44], and Choe Jae-chun[45].

Recognition

Awards received include Guggenheim Fellowship[23], a fellowship grant[46], in United States[47], founded in 1925[48]; Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction[24], a class of award[49], in United States[50]; Humanist of the Year[26], an award[51]; William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement[27], a science award[52], in United States[53], founded in 1950[54]; Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement[55], a science award[56], in United States[57], founded in 1973[58]; and Carl Sagan Award for Public Understanding of Science[59], a science award[60].

Death and Burial

Edward O. Wilson died in Burlington[3]. Burial took place at Westview Cemetery[10].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Edward O. Wilson include Miniopterus wilsoni[61], Pheidole eowilsoni[62], Cordillera Azul Antbird[63], Tapinoma wilsoni[64], Aphaenogaster wilsoni[65], Dacetinops wilsoni[66], Pristomyrmex wilsoni[67], and Strumigenys wilsoni[68].

Why It Matters

Edward O. Wilson has Wikipedia articles in 26 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[9] He is known by 66 alternative names across languages and contexts.[69]

He has been cited as an influence by Napoleon Chagnon[70], an anthropologist[71], 1938–2019[72], of United States[73], specialised in anthropology[74] and Raghavendra Gadagkar[75], a biologist[76], b. 1953[77], of India[78], awarded the H K Firodia awards[79], specialised in biologist[80].

He is credited with the discovery of biophilia hypothesis[81], a hypothesis[82]. Works attributed to him include Sociobiology: The New Synthesis[83], a written work[84]; On Human Nature[85], a literary work[86]; and Half Earth[87], a literary work[88]. Entities named for him include Miniopterus wilsoni[61], Pheidole eowilsoni[62], Cordillera Azul Antbird[63], Tapinoma wilsoni[64], Aphaenogaster wilsoni[65], and Dacetinops wilsoni[66].

His notable doctoral advisees include Daniel Simberloff[89], a biologist[90], b. 1942[91], of United States[92], awarded the Kempe Award for Distinguished Ecologists[93], specialised in ecology[94] and Corrie Moreau[95].

FAQs

Where was Edward O. Wilson born?

Edward O. Wilson was born in Birmingham[2].

Where did Edward O. Wilson die?

Edward O. Wilson passed away in Burlington[3].

What did Edward O. Wilson do for work?

Edward O. Wilson worked as entomologist[4], sociobiologist[5], novelist[6], ethologist[7], and autobiographer[8].

Where did Edward O. Wilson go to school?

Edward O. Wilson was educated at Harvard University[20] and University of Alabama[21].

What awards did Edward O. Wilson receive?

Honors received include Guggenheim Fellowship[23], Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction[24], Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction[25], and Humanist of the Year[26].

Who did Edward O. Wilson influence?

Edward O. Wilson has been cited as an influence by Napoleon Chagnon[70] and Raghavendra Gadagkar[75].

What did Edward O. Wilson discover?

Edward O. Wilson is credited as discoverer of biophilia hypothesis[81].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . The New York Times. Retrieved . nytimes.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [3] . The New York Times. Retrieved . nytimes.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  3. [11] . wikidata.org.
  4. [20] . wikidata.org.
  5. [21] . wikidata.org.
  6. [13] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [14] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  8. [15] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [16] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [17] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [18] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [4] . wikidata.org.
  13. [5] . wikidata.org.
  14. [6] . wikidata.org.
  15. [7] . wikidata.org.
  16. [8] . wikidata.org.
  17. [12] . wikidata.org.
  18. [19] . wikidata.org.
  19. [10] . Find a Grave. wikidata.org.
  20. [23] . Guggenheim Fellows database. wikidata.org.
  21. [24] . as.ua.edu. Retrieved . as.ua.edu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  22. [25] . pulitzer.org. pulitzer.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  23. [26] . americanhumanist.org. Retrieved . americanhumanist.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [27] . sigmaxi.org. sigmaxi.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [55] . Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved . encyclopedia.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  26. [59] . sciencepresidents.org. Retrieved . sciencepresidents.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  27. [22] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  28. [41] . wikidata.org.
  29. [42] . wikidata.org.
  30. [43] . wikidata.org.
  31. [44] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  32. [45] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [70] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [75] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [81] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [83] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [85] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [87] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [89] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [95] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [61] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [62] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [64] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [65] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [66] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [67] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [68] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [82] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [86] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [88] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [90] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [91] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [92] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [93] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [94] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [9] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  2. [69] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Edward O. Wilson. Retrieved April 19, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/edward-o-wilson
MLA “Edward O. Wilson.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 19 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/edward-o-wilson.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_edward-o-wilson_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Edward O. Wilson}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/edward-o-wilson}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-19}}
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  1. 8d ago · Nyuhn · 2026-07-10 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    P14541 1U7ZGS
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/40849|batch #40849]]: ZGBK ID"
  2. 5w ago · Jindřich Rubeš · 2026-06-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Svkkl authority id p0004962-Wilson-Edward-O-19292021
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P9322]]: p0004962-Wilson-Edward-O-19292021, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/259494|batch #259494]]"
  3. 10w ago · Bargioni · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
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    + 1 other property edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30468|batch #30468]]: add P1810 to P5739 2/3"
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