Share this @internewscast.com

Scientists have urged a university not to cut ties with one of its founding fathers after accusations of ‘scientific racism’ were made by an independent history group.

Imperial College is facing calls to remove a bust of 19th century biologist Thomas Huxley and rename a building named in his honour.

But some of the country’s leading scientific figures including Prof Richard Dawkins and Nobel laureate Sir Prof Paul Nurse have taken up the baton to defend Huxley’s reputation as a dedicated abolitionist against slavery, The Telegraph reports.

The move comes after a report was published in October by an independent history group, formed in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, which has examined Imperial college’s links to colonialism.

Their report argued that Huxley wrote an essay which ‘espouses a racial hierarchy of intelligence, a belief system of “scientific racism” that fed the dangerous and false ideology of eugenics’.

Thomas Huxley (1825-1895) was a famed English biologist and a founder of the Royal College of Science, later Imperial College, the institution which is now examining its links with him

Thomas Huxley (1825-1895) was a famed English biologist and a founder of the Royal College of Science, later Imperial College, the institution which is now examining its links with him

Thomas Huxley (1825-1895) was a famed English biologist and a founder of the Royal College of Science, later Imperial College, the institution which is now examining its links with him

Who was Thomas Huxley? Found father of Imperial College under spotlight 

Thomas Huxley (1825 to 1895) was an English biologist known for his advocacy of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which led to his nickname ‘Darwin’s Bulldog’.

In 1860, he engaged in the ‘Oxford evolution debate’ with evangelist Samuel Wilberforce, which was widely seen as a crucial step in the public  acceptance of human evolution.

Huxley was instrumental in advancing scientific thought in Britain and coined the term “agnosticism” in 1869. In 1889, he expanded upon it as a means to assess what is knowable and what is not.

He worked on invertebrates, examining the relationships between groups pf species which were previously only vaguely understood. Later, he worked on vertebrates, particularly the relationship between apes and humans. 

The group concluded that Huxley ‘might now be called racist’ and suggested the removal of his bust, as well as renaming the Huxley building.

But a group of 39 leading scientists have risen up to object to the report’s characterisation of Huxley, and they have asked Imperial College not to cut its links with him.

Their letter stated: ‘Huxley was an ardent abolitionist who fought the virulent pro-slavery scientific racism of his day and publicly welcomed the defeat of the Confederacy in 1865,” they say.

‘From childhood poverty, Huxley rose on merit to become President of the Royal Society and Privy Counsellor.

‘”Darwin’s Bulldog”, he fought for the theory of evolution, and first demonstrated our evolutionary descent from an ape-like ancestor.’

Although the scientists admitted Huxley believed in a hierarchy of races, they stated that he became wary of racial stereotypes as he aged.

They added that Huxley ‘reformed London’s schools, was a principal of a working men’s college, wrote volumes of journalism, gave lectures for working people and opened his classes to women’.

‘He was instrumental in founding the Royal College of Science, later Imperial College, the very institution that now seeks to disown him. Many staff were outraged’

‘Huxley’s early belief in a hierarchy of races is not ours. 

‘But, for his scientific accomplishments, his conviction that all men and women should be judged on their merits, civic-mindedness, and the reforming zeal he brought to British science and education, we remain in his debt. 

‘For these reasons we think his name should stay on Imperial’s walls.’

An independent history group formed in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 has reassessed Huxley and suggested his bust should be removed from the campus, as well as renaming a building named in his honour

An independent history group formed in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 has reassessed Huxley and suggested his bust should be removed from the campus, as well as renaming a building named in his honour

An independent history group formed in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 has reassessed Huxley and suggested his bust should be removed from the campus, as well as renaming a building named in his honour

Prof Armand Leroi, an expert in evolutionary developmental biology at Imperial College, described the history group’s suggestions as ‘frankly shocking’ and said many members of staff were ‘outraged’ – especially the biologists.

He added: ‘Huxley was such a champion of egalitarianism, of access to science, of working class education. These are all things he worked for tirelessly in his life.

‘By the standards of the day he was an extraordinarily enlightened man – he fought against the racist scientists of his day who were allied with slavery ideologues in the US. He should be seen in the context and the mood of his time.’ 

Imperial College has been contacted by Mail Online for comment. 

Source: This post first appeared on

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Jury to Visit Location Where Woman’s Body Was Discovered

A jury will visit the site where a woman’s body was found…

Teenager kills girlfriend and stages it as a suicide

Left: Nathaniel N. Archuleta (Peoria County Jail). Right: Mary Halcomb (Dignity Memorial).…

Wisconsin Teen Faces Charges for Fatally Shooting Father Following Eviction from Apartment

A teenager from Wisconsin is currently in custody, accused of fatally shooting…

Colorado Teen Abducts 5-Year-Old from Water Park, Allegedly Assaults Her in Locker Room: Police Report

A Colorado teen is facing charges after police say he sexually assaulted…

Law Firm Urges Appeals Court to Dismiss Trump’s Tariff Actions

President Donald Trump addresses attendees during a luncheon with African leaders in…

Man Accused of Killing Longtime Friend at Lake House

Anthony Emerson (Pulaski County Detention Center). An Ohio man is behind bars…

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sentencing Date Set for October

A New York federal judge finalized a sentencing date on Tuesday for…

Man Receives Death Penalty for Murdering Teenager

Inset: Khyler Edman (Life Celebration Center). background: Ryan Cole during his trial…

Lawsuit Claims Jail Overlooked Inmate’s Cries for Assistance Before Death

Left: Troy Allen Pownell, beside his father Troy Dean Pownell (right, in…

Rebels Biker Arrested for Filming Cruel Shooting of Trapped Cat

A Rebels bikie member has been charged after police allegedly uncovered a…

Man on pre-trial release attempts $1,800 theft from Walmart, arrested again

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jonathan Stephen King, 36, was arrested yesterday…

Court Rejects Refund for Jan. 6 Restitution and Criticizes DOJ Support

Left inset: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan (Administrative Office of the U.S.…