Louis Leakey

Summary

Louis Leakey is a human^[1]. Born in Nairobi^[2], he… he was born on +1903-08-07T00:00:00Z^[3]. He passed away in London^[4]. He died on +1972-10-01T00:00:00Z^[5]. He worked as an anthropologist^[6], archaeologist^[7], prehistorian^[8], autobiographer^[9], and paleoanthropologist^[10]. He ranks in the top 0.68% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (537 views/month, #6,835 of 1,000,298).^[11]

Key Facts

• Louis Leakey was born in Nairobi^[2].
• Louis Leakey died in London^[4].
• Louis Leakey was born on +1903-08-07T00:00:00Z^[3].
• Louis Leakey died on +1972-10-01T00:00:00Z^[5].
• Louis Leakey's father was Harry Leakey^[12].
• Louis Leakey's mother was Mary Bazett^[13].
• Louis Leakey was married to Mary Leakey^[14].
• Among Louis Leakey's spouses was Henrietta Leakey^[15].
• A child of Louis Leakey was Richard Leakey^[16].
• A child of Louis Leakey was Philip Leakey^[17].
• A child of Louis Leakey was Jonathan Leakey^[18].
• A child of Louis Leakey was Priscilla Muthoni Avern Leakey^[19].
• A child of Louis Leakey was Colin L. A. Leakey^[20].
• Louis Leakey held citizenship in Kenya^[21].
• Louis Leakey worked as an anthropologist^[6].
• Louis Leakey's professions included archaeologist^[7].
• Louis Leakey's professions included prehistorian^[8].
• Louis Leakey worked as an autobiographer^[9].
• Louis Leakey's professions included paleoanthropologist^[10].
• Louis Leakey worked as a paleontologist^[22].
• Louis Leakey's field of work was archaeology^[23].
• Among Louis Leakey's employers was University of Cambridge^[24].
• Louis Leakey was employed by Coryndon Museum^[25].
• Louis Leakey was educated at St John's College^[26].
• Louis Leakey was educated at Weymouth College^[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Nairobi^[2], Louis Leakey… he was born on +1903-08-07T00:00:00Z^[3]. His father was Harry Leakey^[12]. His mother was Mary Bazett^[13].

Education

Educated at St John's College^[26], a college of the University of Cambridge^[28], in United Kingdom^[29], founded in 1511^[30] and Weymouth College^[27], a public school^[31], in United Kingdom^[32], founded in 1863^[33].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include anthropologist^[6], archaeologist^[7], prehistorian^[8], autobiographer^[9], paleoanthropologist^[10], and paleontologist^[22]. Louis Leakey's field of work was archaeology^[23]. Employers include University of Cambridge^[24], a collegiate university^[34], in United Kingdom^[35], founded in 1209^[36], headquartered in Cambridge^[37] and Coryndon Museum^[25].

Recognition

Awards received include Vega Medal^[38], a science award^[39], in Sweden^[40]; Founder’s Medal^[41], a science award^[42], in United Kingdom^[43], founded in 1831^[44]; Prestwich Medal^[45], a science award^[46], in United Kingdom^[47], founded in 1903^[48]; Hubbard Medal^[49], an award^[50], in United States^[51], founded in 1906^[52]; and Silliman Memorial Lectures^[53], an award^[54].

Personal Life

Spouses include Mary Leakey^[14], an anthropologist^[55], 1913–1996^[56], of United Kingdom^[57], awarded the Prestwich Medal^[58], specialised in anthropology^[59] and Henrietta Leakey^[15], a teacher^[60], 1902–1993^[61], of United Kingdom^[62]. Children include Richard Leakey^[16], a paleoanthropologist^[63], 1944–2022^[64], of Kenya^[65], awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society^[66], specialised in paleoanthropology^[67]; Philip Leakey^[17], a politician^[68], b. 1949^[69], of Kenya^[70]; Jonathan Leakey^[18], a businessperson^[71], 1940–2021^[72], of United Kingdom^[73]; Priscilla Muthoni Avern Leakey^[19]; and Colin L. A. Leakey^[20].

Death and Burial

Louis Leakey died on +1972-10-01T00:00:00Z^[5]. He passed away in London^[4]. The cause of death was myocardial infarction^[74].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Louis Leakey include The Trimates^[75], a group of humans^[76]; Leakey^[77], a lunar crater^[78]; and 7958 Leakey^[79], an asteroid^[80].

Why It Matters

Louis Leakey ranks in the top 0.68% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (537 views/month, #6,835 of 1,000,298).^[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.^[81] He is known by 20 alternative names across languages and contexts.^[82]

He has been cited as an influence by Jane Goodall^[83], a university teacher^[84], 1934–2025^[85], of United Kingdom^[86], awarded the Officer of the Legion of Honour^[87], specialised in ethology^[88] and Birutė Galdikas^[89], a biologist^[90], 1946–2026^[91], of Canada^[92], awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada^[93], specialised in primatology^[94].

He is credited with the discovery of OH 9^[95], a Hominin fossil^[96] and Olduvai Hominid 8^[97], a Hominin fossil^[98]. Entities named for him include The Trimates^[75], a group of humans^[76]; Leakey^[77], a lunar crater^[78]; and 7958 Leakey^[79], an asteroid^[80].

FAQs

Where was Louis Leakey born?

Born in Nairobi^[2], Louis Leakey…

Where did Louis Leakey die?

Louis Leakey died in London^[4].

Who were Louis Leakey's parents?

Louis Leakey's father was Harry Leakey^[12]. Louis Leakey's mother was Mary Bazett^[13].

Who was Louis Leakey married to?

Louis Leakey's spouses include Mary Leakey^[14] and Henrietta Leakey^[15].

What did Louis Leakey do for work?

Louis Leakey worked as anthropologist^[6], archaeologist^[7], prehistorian^[8], autobiographer^[9], and paleoanthropologist^[10].

Where did Louis Leakey go to school?

Louis Leakey was educated at St John's College^[26] and Weymouth College^[27].

What awards did Louis Leakey receive?

Honors received include Vega Medal^[38], Founder’s Medal^[41], Prestwich Medal^[45], and Hubbard Medal^[49].

Who did Louis Leakey influence?

Louis Leakey has been cited as an influence by Jane Goodall^[83] and Birutė Galdikas^[89].

What did Louis Leakey discover?

Louis Leakey is credited as discoverer of OH 9^[95] and Olduvai Hominid 8^[97].