Former Fellow Dr Louis Leakey recognised with blue plaque on home near Cambridge
A celebrated palaeoanthropologist and former Fellow of St John’s College, Louis Leakey (1922), is being recognised with a blue plaque on his previous home near Cambridge.
Dr Leakey’s study of early hominid fossils established that the origins and evolution of mankind began in Africa. He also advanced the study of primates and was instrumental in launching the careers of three pioneering female scientists: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birutė Galdikas. Fossey’s work was later portrayed in the 1988 film Gorillas in the Mist, with Louis Leakey as a central character.
The blue plaque will be installed on his former home at 13 High Street, Foxton, to recognise a man whose work reshaped our understanding of what it means to be human.
Dr Tamsin O’Connell, Head of Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge says: “We are delighted to host the unveiling of this blue plaque that honours Louis Leakey and his monumental impact in establishing the foundations of our understanding of human evolution and the pivotal role of Africa. From his days as an ‘Arch & Anth’ undergraduate here at Cambridge to his world-famous excavations at Olduvai Gorge, he was an energetic and innovative thinker, constantly encouraging new ideas and approaches, as well as inspiring succeeding generations across archaeology, palaeontology and primatology.”
The Cambridge and District blue plaque scheme is run by the charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future. Longstanton councillor Tom Bygott worked with the charity on the plaque project. He said: “The plaques recognise people and events that have made a significant impact on our area, the UK or indeed the world. We are very pleased that the 43rd plaque will be a fitting tribute to a man whose insatiable curiosity, rigorous fieldwork and tireless advocacy transformed our understanding of early human evolution.”
Louis Leakey was born in 1903 in what was then British East Africa (modern-day Kenya). His parents were English missionaries, and Louis grew up among the Kikuyu people, with whom he developed close ties that would profoundly shape his world view. He became fluent in Kikuyu and was later made an honorary member of the Kikuyu tribe, a rare distinction for a European.
From a young age, he collected stone tools and fossilised bones, intuitively drawn to the clues they offered about early human life. Leakey’s formal education began in England and he gained a scholarship to St John’s College where he studied Archaeology and Anthropology and then became a Research Fellow.
Eager to pursue his interest in human origins, Leakey returned to East Africa in the 1920s to lead a series of expeditions in the Olduvai Gorge and other promising fossil sites. These laid the groundwork for his lifelong commitment to unearthing the story of the evolution of hominids. Louis received his BA in 1926 and PhD in 1930, both from the University of Cambridge.
The breakthrough in Leakey’s career came in the 1950s and 60s, through sustained excavations at Olduvai Gorge. Working alongside his second wife, Mary Leakey, a distinguished archaeologist in her own right, he helped uncover a treasure trove of fossil remains and stone tools that revolutionised the field of palaeoanthropology.
Among the most significant discoveries were the remains of Homo habilis, a species believed to be one of the earliest members of the genus Homo. The Leakeys’ work also contributed to the development of more refined dating techniques and excavation methods, setting new standards for the field.
Louis Leakey believed that Africa was the cradle of human evolution, with the discoveries at Olduvai Gorge playing a significant role, and formed what later became known as the Out of Africa theory. With the use of genetic sequencing in Cambridge in the 1970s and large-scale genome sequencing of modern human populations and Neanderthal fossil remains in the early twenty-first century, the Out of Africa theory was scientifically confirmed.
In addition to his fossil discoveries, Louis Leakey made an indelible mark on the study of living primates. Convinced that understanding the behaviour of our closest relatives could shed light on early human societies, he actively encouraged young researchers to observe primates in their natural environments.
Most famously, he was instrumental in launching the careers of the scientists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birutė Galdikas. Goodall’s groundbreaking work with chimpanzees in Tanzania, Fossey’s studies of gorillas in Rwanda, and Galdikas’ research on orangutans in Borneo each reshaped the field of primatology. Leakey’s foresight and mentorship were crucial in making this possible, as was his ability to secure funding and institutional support for their fieldwork.
Leakey was a passionate advocate for science, conservation and education. He wrote prolifically, not only for academic journals but also for a wider public audience, believing deeply in the importance of communicating science to society. His many books and lectures helped popularise the idea of human evolution and inspired generations of scientists and enthusiasts alike.
He was also a committed anti-racist and a vocal critic of Eurocentric views of history and culture.
Leakey received numerous honours during his lifetime, including election as a Fellow of the Royal Society. He founded the Centre for Prehistory and Palaeontology in Nairobi and played a key role in establishing the National Museums of Kenya as leading institutions for scientific research. He died in 1972.
Louis Leakey and his first wife Frida, née Avern, lived at The Lodge, 13 High Street, Foxton, in the early 1930s. The house was built in 1705 and is of historic interest. It was during his time in Foxton that Leakey continued to write and reflect on the broader implications of his work. An unveiling event for the blue plaque is being hosted by the University’s Department of Archaeology.
Cambridge Past, Present & Future is a civic charity that protects the beauty of Cambridge and its environment. The charity owns and cares for Wandlebury Country Park, Coton Countryside Reserve, Cambridge Leper Chapel, Bourn Windmill and Hinxton Watermill.
