Full Name: John Thomas Scopes
Profession: Teacher Convicted for Teaching Evolution
Biography: John T Scopes was the young school teacher caught up in the infamous 1925 "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution in Tennessee.
In 1925 Tennessee had passed the Butler Act, prohibiting any teaching that denied the divine right of God. The American Civil Liberties Union ask Scopes to be the test case in court. William Jennings Bryan was the lead prosecutor and Clarence Darrow led the defense. Scopes was eventually found guilty and fined $100. On appeal the state Supreme Court acquitted Scopes on a technicality.
The trial did much to publicize the theory of evolution in America. The Butler act itself wasn't appealed until 1967. Scopes disliked the publicity and eventually left teaching to work in the oil industry.
Born: August 3, 1900
Birthplace: Paducah, Kentucky, USA
Generation: Lost Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Leo
Died: October 21, 1970 (aged 70)
Cause of Death: Cancer
Articles and Photos
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Charles Darwin set out on a voyage of discovery on this day. What he discovered was later to stun the scientific world – and outrage the Church.
December 27, 1831
Test of Time for the Date of Creation
The assertion by a 17th Century bishop that the universe was created on this day in the year 4004 BC was put to the test in a famous trial in the United States.
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Historical Events
- 1925-05-05 Dayton teacher John T. Scopes arrested for teaching evolution in Tennessee
- 1925-07-10 Jury selection takes place in US John T. Scopes evolution trial
- 1925-07-21 John T. Scopes found guilty of teaching evolution in the “Scopes monkey trial” in Dayton, Tennessee, fined $100 and costs
- 1927-01-15 Tennessee Supreme Court overturns (on a technicality) John T. Scopes' guilty verdict for teaching evolution, but the law itself remains in force
Alice Mary Robertson
Booker T. Washington
Gabriela Mistral
Horace Mann
Isaac Pitman
Maria Montessori