Ch. (Charles) Letourneau

Born in Auray, Brittany, on September 23, 1831, Charles Jean-Marie Letourneau became known as a French anthropologist, physician, and freethinker. He joined the Anthropological Society of Paris in 1865 and later served as its secretary-general, a role he held from 1887 until his death in Paris on February 21, 1902.

Letourneau wrote extensively for a broad reading public, often exploring how human institutions developed over time. Among the subjects he tackled were marriage, the family, property, education, literature, and slavery. His books reflect the 19th century's strong faith in comparative study and evolutionary explanations, which helped make his work influential in its day.

He is also remembered for his political commitments: French sources note that during the Paris Commune he served as a doctor for the Communards, which later brought him close police attention. Today, his writing offers both a window into the early history of anthropology and a vivid sense of how scholars of his era tried to explain the human past.