Francis Galton:传记、成就与不朽的遗产

As an investigator of the human mind, he founded psychometrics and differential psychology, as well as the lexical hypothesis of personality. He devised a method for classifying fingerprints that proved useful in forensic science. He also conducted research on the power of prayer, concluding it had none due to its null effects on the longevity of those prayed for. His quest for the scientific principles of diverse phenomena extended even to the optimal method for making tea. As the initiator of scientific meteorology, he devised the first weather map, proposed a theory of anticyclones, and was the first to establish a complete record of short-term climatic phenomena on a European scale. He also invented the Galton whistle for testing differential hearing ability. Galton was knighted in 1909 for his contributions to science. He was Charles Darwin's half-cousin.

In recent years, he has received significant criticism for being a proponent of social Darwinism, eugenics, and biological racism; indeed he was a pioneer of eugenics, coining the term itself in 1883.

Galton is credited with popularizing the phrase "nature versus nurture" to frame the academic discussion regarding the relative influence of heredity and environment on human ability and social advancement.