Huxley, T(homas) H(enry)

English scientist and humanist. Following the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859), he became known as ‘Darwin's bulldog’, and for many years was a prominent champion of evolution. In 1869 he coined the word ‘agnostic’ to express his own religious attitude, and is considered the founder of scientific humanism.

From 1846 to 1850 Huxley was the assistant ship's surgeon on HMS Rattlesnake on its voyage around the South Seas. The observations he made on the voyage, especially of invertebrates, were published and made his name in the UK.