Louis Leakey

Louis Leakey (1903-1972) was a British archaeologist whose work was important in establishing man's development in Africa.

Born in 1903, he studied at Cambridge University, graduating in 1926. He discovered several human and proto-human skeletons or partial skeletons at Olduvai Gorge[?] and Rusinga Island[?], firmly outlining man's early ancestral tree.

Married to Mary Leakey[?], who also made important discoveries in the field. Father of Richard Leakey famous for discovering the Turkana boy[?], a nearly complete skeleton of a 9 year old homnid who died 1.5 million years ago.

Louis Leakey died of a heart attack in 1972 at the age of 69.

Leakey's cousin, Rea Leakey, was a British tank commander during World War II.