Louis Leakey

Summary

Louis Leakey is a human^[1]. Born in Nairobi^[2], he… he was born on August 7, 1903^[3]. He passed away in London^[4]. He died on October 1, 1972^[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 (4,077 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 August 7, 1903^[3].
• Louis Leakey died on October 1, 1972^[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 is identified as part of the English people ethnic group^[22].
• Louis Leakey's professions included anthropologist^[6].
• Louis Leakey's professions included archaeologist^[7].
• Louis Leakey worked as a prehistorian^[8].
• Louis Leakey's professions included autobiographer^[9].
• Louis Leakey worked as a paleoanthropologist^[10].
• Louis Leakey's professions included paleontologist^[23].
• Louis Leakey's field of work was archaeology^[24].
• Louis Leakey was employed by University of Cambridge^[25].
• Louis Leakey was employed by Coryndon Museum^[26].
• Louis Leakey was educated at St John's College^[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Nairobi^[2], Louis Leakey… he was born on August 7, 1903^[3]. His father was Harry Leakey^[12]. His mother was Mary Bazett^[13]. He is identified as part of the English people ethnic group^[22].

Education

Educated at St John's College^[27], a college of the University of Cambridge^[28], in United Kingdom^[29], founded in 1511^[30] and Weymouth College^[31], a public school^[32], in United Kingdom^[33], founded in 1863^[34].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include anthropologist^[6], archaeologist^[7], prehistorian^[8], autobiographer^[9], paleoanthropologist^[10], and paleontologist^[23]. Louis Leakey's field of work was archaeology^[24]. Employers include University of Cambridge^[25], a collegiate university^[35], in United Kingdom^[36], founded in 1209^[37], headquartered in Cambridge^[38] and Coryndon Museum^[26].

Recognition

Awards received include Vega Medal^[39], a science award^[40], in Sweden^[41]; Founder’s Medal^[42], a science award^[43], in United Kingdom^[44], founded in 1831^[45]; Prestwich Medal^[46], a science award^[47], in United Kingdom^[48], founded in 1903^[49]; Hubbard Medal^[50], an award^[51], in United States^[52], founded in 1906^[53]; and Silliman Memorial Lectures^[54], an award^[55].

Personal Life

Spouses include Mary Leakey^[14], an anthropologist^[56], 1913–1996^[57], of United Kingdom^[58], awarded the Prestwich Medal^[59], specialised in anthropology^[60] and Henrietta Leakey^[15], a teacher^[61], 1902–1993^[62], of United Kingdom^[63]. Children include Richard Leakey^[16], a paleoanthropologist^[64], 1944–2022^[65], of Kenya^[66], awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society^[67], specialised in paleoanthropology^[68]; Philip Leakey^[17], a politician^[69], b. 1949^[70], of Kenya^[71]; Jonathan Leakey^[18], a businessperson^[72], 1940–2021^[73], of United Kingdom^[74]; Priscilla Muthoni Avern Leakey^[19]; and Colin L. A. Leakey^[20].

Death and Burial

Louis Leakey died on October 1, 1972^[5]. He died in London^[4]. The cause of death was myocardial infarction^[75].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Louis Leakey include The Trimates^[76], a group of humans^[77]; 7958 Leakey^[78], an asteroid^[79]; and Leakey^[80], a lunar crater^[81].

Why It Matters

Louis Leakey ranks in the top 0.68% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (4,077 views/month, #6,835 of 1,000,298).^[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.^[82] He is known by 31 alternative names across languages and contexts.^[83]

He has been cited as an influence by Jane Goodall^[84], a university teacher^[85], 1934–2025^[86], of United Kingdom^[87], awarded the Officer of the Legion of Honour^[88], specialised in ethology^[89] and Birutė Galdikas^[90], a biologist^[91], 1946–2026^[92], of Canada^[93], awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada^[94], specialised in primatology^[95].

He is credited with the discovery of OH 9^[96], a Hominin fossil^[97] and Olduvai Hominid 8^[98], a Hominin fossil^[99]. Entities named for him include The Trimates^[76], a group of humans^[77]; 7958 Leakey^[78], an asteroid^[79]; and Leakey^[80], a lunar crater^[81].

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^[27] and Weymouth College^[31].

What awards did Louis Leakey receive?

Honors received include Vega Medal^[39], Founder’s Medal^[42], Prestwich Medal^[46], and Hubbard Medal^[50].

Who did Louis Leakey influence?

Louis Leakey has been cited as an influence by Jane Goodall^[84] and Birutė Galdikas^[90].

What did Louis Leakey discover?

Louis Leakey is credited as discoverer of OH 9^[96] and Olduvai Hominid 8^[98].