Louis Leakey - Definition and Overview

Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey (August 7, 1903-October 1, 1972) was a British archaeologist whose work was important in establishing human evolutionary development in Africa.

Born in Kenya, 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 made arguably the more important discoveries in the field. He is also the father of paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey.

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.