Alfred Russell Wallace O.M. Plaque

Alfred Russel Wallace O.M. was born on 8th January 1823 near Usk. Whilst working for his brother as a surveyor he developed a keen interest in natural history, especially beetles, and went on to explore the Amazon and the Malaysian Archipelago. In March 1858, over a period of 2 days, Wallace produced a paper which challenged scientific thinking, and in association with papers from Charles Darwin, led to a fundamental change in the way life on earth was viewed.

Wallace sent his paper to Darwin and following urgent discussions with Charles Lyell it was agreed to present the paper, together with a number of Darwin's own papers, to the Linnean Society on 1st July 1858. The papers were published together on 20th August the same year, but a few months later, in 1859, Darwin published his own version of the Theory of Evolution which he titled: "On the Origin of Species".

It was not until 1908 that Wallace gained full recognition for his contribution to the Theory of Evolution when he was presented the Linnean Society's gold medal. No biologist since then has been given such an accolade. In fact Wallace also received, in the same year, the Order of Merit from Edward 7th. The Order of Merit is restricted to only 24 members and is in the personal gift of the Sovereign].

It is therefore fitting that Alfred Russel Wallace, a former resident of Broadstone, (from 1902 until his death on 7th November 1913) should once again be recognised for his contributions to science. The original plaster version of this plaque, now owned by the Natural History Museum was made by Albert Bruce-Joy in 1914. Mr. Bruce-Joy made a number of different portrait medallions of Alfred Russell Wallace following a sitting in 1897, though the earliest known example dates from 1906. This plaque, made by Nigel Larkin, is Replica No. 15 of a very limited edition that is being presented to those countries where Wallace travelled and developed his theories.

The plaque has been sponsored by Broadstone Residents Association and donated by the Alfred Russel Wallace Memorial Fund. It was unveiled by Annette Brooke MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole on 27th August 2009.