Michele Lessona

Born in Venaria Reale in 1823 and later active in Turin, he was an Italian zoologist, writer, and science popularizer. Sources describe him as a specialist in amphibians, and also note that he studied medicine before moving more fully into natural history and academic work.

He is especially remembered as one of the main early voices spreading Darwin’s work in Italy. He translated major books by Charles Darwin, including The Descent of Man, and wrote broadly for readers beyond the university, helping make scientific ideas more accessible.

His career also reached beyond research alone: he taught zoology and comparative anatomy, traveled in places including Egypt and Persia, and was appointed a senator of the Kingdom of Italy in 1892. He died in Turin in 1894.