Biography
E.O. Wilson was a famous American biologist, naturalist, entomologist, and ecologist. He was born on June 10, 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. He died on December 26, 2024 at the age of 92 in Burlington, Massachusetts, U.S. His full name is Edward Osborne Wilson. He received his early education from his hometown and completed his B.S & M.S from the University of Alabama and PhD from the Harvard University. He was best known for Sociobiology, Island biogeography, Epic of evolution, Character displacement, Biophilia hypothesis, and Taxon cycle. He married to Irena Kelley in 1955. He received numerous awards in his life including American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 1959, National Medal of Science in 1977, and Kew International Medal in 2014.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edward Osborne Wilson |
| Birthdate | June 10, 1929 |
| Birthplace | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Death Date | December 26, 2021 |
| Education | – Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Alabama<br>- Ph.D. from Harvard University |
| Profession | Biologist, naturalist, ecologist, and entomologist |
| Spouse | Irene Kelley (married in 1955) |
| Parents | Inez Linnette Freeman (mother) and Edward Osborne Wilson Sr. (father) |
| Notable Contributions | – Development of the field of sociobiology<br>- Theory of island biogeography |
| Awards | – Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy<br>- Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner |
| Major Books | – “The Ants”<br>- “On Human Nature”<br>- “The Diversity of Life” |
| Institutions | – Harvard University<br>- Museum of Natural History |
| Notable Students | – Daniel Simberloff<br>- Mark W. Moffett |
| Notable Theory | – Character displacement |
| Notable Controversy | Sociobiology controversy |
| Notable Works | – “The Social Conquest of Earth”<br>- “Letters to a Young Scientist” |
| Other Notable Achievements | – New York Times bestselling author |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes at the age of 92 |
E. O. Wilson Books
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| The Ants | 1990 |
| Half-Earth | 2016 |
| The Theory of Island Biogeography | 1967 |
| Biophilia | 1984 |
| Consilience | 1998 |
| Sociobiology: The New Synthesis | 1975 |
| The Diversity of Life | 1992 |
| On Human Nature | 1978 |
| The Social Conquest of Earth | 2012 |
| The Future of Life | 2002 |
| The Meaning of Human Existence | 2014 |
| Letters to a Young Scientist | 2013 |
| Biodiversity | 1988 |
| Journey to the Ants | 1994 |
| Naturalist | 1994 |
| The Insect Societies | 1971 |
| The Origins of Creativity | 2017 |
| Genesis: The Deep Origin of Societies | 2019 |
| The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth | 2006 |
| Tales from the Ant World | 2020 |
| Pheidole in the New World | 2003 |
| Every Species is a Masterpiece | 2021 |
| The Leafcutter Ants: Civilization by Instinct | 2010 |
| Genes, Mind, And Culture | 1981 |
| Anthill: A Novel | 2010 |
| Ameisen. Die Entdeckung einer faszinierenden Welt | 1995 |
| In Search of Nature | 2013 |
| Southern Wonder: Alabama’s Surprising Biodiversity | 2013 |
| The Future of Life: The Second Annual John H. Chafee Memorial Lecture | 2002 |
| E. O. Wilson: Biophilia, The Diversity of Life, Naturalist (LOA #340) | 2021 |
| The True Army Ants of the Indo-Australian Area (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dorylinae) | 2015 |
| Sociobiology: The Abridged Edition | 1980 |
| Kingdom of Ants: José Celestino Mutis and the Dawn of Natural History in the New World | 2010 |
E. O. Wilson Awards
| Award/Honor | Year |
|---|---|
| Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | 1959 |
| Member of the National Academy of Sciences | 1969 |
| Member of the American Philosophical Society | 1976 |
| U.S. National Medal of Science | 1977 |
| Leidy Award | 1979 |
| Pulitzer Prize for “On Human Nature” | 1979 |
| Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement | 1984 |
| ECI Prize | 1987 |
| Honorary doctorate from Uppsala University, Sweden | 1987 |
| Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award | 1988 |
| Science Citation Classic award for “The Insect Societies” | |
| Science Citation Classic award for “Sociobiology: The New Synthesis” | |
| Crafoord Prize | 1990 |
| Pulitzer Prize for “The Ants” (with Bert Hölldobler) | 1991 |
| International Prize for Biology | 1993 |
| Carl Sagan Award for Public Understanding of Science | 1994 |
| The National Audubon Society’s Audubon Medal | 1995 |
| Time magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in America | 1995 |
| Certificate of Distinction, International Congresses of Entomology | 1996 |
| Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences | 1998 |
| American Humanist Association’s Humanist of the Year | 1999 |
| Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science | 2000 |
| Nierenberg Prize | 2001 |
| Distinguished Eagle Scout Award | 2004 |
| Addison Emery Verrill Medal | 2007 |
| TED Prize | 2007 |
| XIX Premi Internacional Catalunya | 2007 |
| E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center | 2009 |
| The Explorers Club Medal | 2009 |
| BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award | 2010 |
| Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture | 2010 |
| Heartland Prize for Fiction | 2010 |
| EarthSky Science Communicator of the Year | 2010 |
| International Cosmos Prize | 2012 |
| Kew International Medal | 2014 |
| Doctor of Science, honoris causa, from the American Museum of Natural History | 2014 |
| Harper Lee Award | 2016 |
| Commemoration in the species’ epithet of Myrmoderus eowilsoni | 2018 |
| Commemoration in the species’ epithet of Miniopterus wilsoni | 2020 |
FAQs about E. O. Wilson Biography
What is the full name of E. O. Wilson?
The Full name of E. O. Wilson is Edward Osborne Wilson
What is the profession of E. O. Wilson?
Profession of E. O. Wilson: Biologist, naturalist, ecologist, and entomologist
What is the age of E. O. Wilson?
Age of E. O. Wilson: He passed away on December 26, 2021, at the age of 92.
What is the height of E. O. Wilson?
Height of E. O. Wilson: There is no specific information available regarding his height.
What is the weight of E. O. Wilson?
Weight of E. O. Wilson: There is no specific information available regarding his weight.
Who is E. O. Wilson’s spouse?
Spouse of E. O. Wilson: Irene Kelley (married in 1955)
Who are E. O. Wilson’s parents?
Parents of E. O. Wilson: Inez Linnette Freeman (mother) and Edward Osborne Wilson Sr. (father)
Who are E. O. Wilson’s siblings?
Siblings of E. O. Wilson: He was the only child.
What is the net worth of E. O. Wilson?
Net worth of E. O. Wilson: There is no specific information available about his net worth.
What is the education of E. O. Wilson?
Education of E. O. Wilson: He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Alabama and completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University.
What are the major awards E. O. Wilson received?
Major awards received by E. O. Wilson: Wilson received the Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy, was a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (for “On Human Nature” in 1979, and “The Ants” in 1991), and was a New York Times bestselling author for several of his books, including “The Social Conquest of Earth,” “Letters to a Young Scientist,” and “The Meaning of Human Existence.”
