CHAIR OF EUGENICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 7

CHAIR OF EUGENICS.

• SIR T. GALTON'S REQUEST. We are able to announce on Hid highest authority (says the "Daily News" of •February 13) that the late Sir Francis Galton has bequeathed his residuary estate to London University for the purpose of encouraging and developing the study of notional eugenics. It is hoped that tho bequest will bo sufficient to found i Chair of Eugenics at University College, in addition to tho scholarship, already in existence. Sir Francis Galton was the founder of the science of eugenics, and five years ago gave'£so9 to University College, the interest of which goes to form a Galton Scholarship of Eugenics. The scholar pursues his inquiries—chiefly a scientific study of heredity—at the laboratory of University College, and the tenure of the scholarship is from year to year, and depends upon tho progress mado by the student. The first scholar was Mr. J. Sinister, who hold it for three years; the present holder is Mr. Herron, who is pursuing his studies under tho direction of Professor Karl Pearson. • Although the late Sir Francis Galton believed in tho popular advocacy of eugenics, and was a warm and enthusiastic supporter of the Eugenics Society, ho was particularly anxious that the movement should rest on a scientific basis'. As a consequence tho main work of the students of the university has been to carry out a highly technical study of heredity, while the work of the Eugenics Society, ably led by Drs. Slaughter. Saleeby. and others, has" been to deal with eugenics as a social problem and educate the public mind on the ouestion from a humanitarian point of view.