Early Life and Education of Jane Goodall: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Jane Goodall. From birth to education, explore key events.

Jane Goodall is a renowned English primatologist, zoologist, and anthropologist, considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. Since 1960, she has dedicated over 60 years to studying the social and family dynamics of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Her groundbreaking research revolutionized our understanding of chimpanzee behavior, challenging previous assumptions about their tool use, social structures, and cognitive abilities. Beyond her scientific contributions, Goodall is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and animal welfare, inspiring generations to protect our planet and its inhabitants through her work with the Jane Goodall Institute.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1906: Birth of Margaret Myfanwe Joseph

In 1906, Margaret Myfanwe Joseph, Jane Goodall's mother, was born. She was a novelist who wrote under the name Vanne Morris-Goodall.

1907: Birth of Mortimer Herbert Morris-Goodall

In 1907, Mortimer Herbert Morris-Goodall, the father of Jane Goodall, was born. He was a businessman.

April 1934: Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall's Birth

In April 1934, Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall was born in Hampstead, London, to Mortimer Herbert Morris-Goodall and Margaret Myfanwe Joseph, who was a novelist.

April 1934: Jane Goodall's Birth

In April 1934, Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall, later known as Dame Jane Goodall, was born. She would become a renowned English zoologist, primatologist, and anthropologist, celebrated as the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees.

1957: Move to Kenya

In 1957, Jane Goodall was drawn to Africa and moved to the farm of a friend in the Kenya highlands. Subsequently, she worked as a secretary and contacted Louis Leakey, leading to her involvement in chimpanzee research.

1958: Studies in London

In 1958, Louis Leakey sent Jane Goodall to London to study primate behavior with Osman Hill and primate anatomy with John Napier, preparing her for her future research.

July 1960: Arrival at Gombe Stream National Park

On July 14, 1960, Jane Goodall, accompanied by her mother, arrived at Gombe Stream National Park to begin her chimpanzee research, becoming the first of the 'Trimates'.

1962: Enrollment at the University of Cambridge

In 1962, despite not having a degree, Jane Goodall was sent to the University of Cambridge by Louis Leakey to pursue her studies. She was the eighth person to be allowed to study for a PhD at Cambridge without first obtaining a bachelor's degree.

March 1964: Marriage to Baron Hugo van Lawick

On 28 March 1964, Jane Goodall married Dutch nobleman and wildlife photographer Baron Hugo van Lawick at Chelsea Old Church, London, becoming known as Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall during their marriage.

1964: Bachelor of Arts Degree

By 1964, Jane Goodall received her Bachelor of Arts degree in natural sciences from Newnham College, Cambridge. Later that year, she enrolled at Darwin College to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in ethology.

1966: Completion of PhD Thesis

In 1966, Jane Goodall completed her PhD thesis, titled 'Behaviour of free-living chimpanzees,' detailing her first five years of study at the Gombe Reserve under the supervision of Robert Hinde.

1967: Birth of son, Hugo Eric Louis

In 1967, Jane Goodall and her then husband, Baron Hugo van Lawick, had a son named Hugo Eric Louis.

1974: Divorce from Baron Hugo van Lawick

In 1974, Jane Goodall and Baron Hugo van Lawick divorced.

1974: Start of Gombe Chimpanzee War

In 1974, the Gombe Chimpanzee War began. Over the next four years, Jane Goodall observed aggressive and violent behavior within chimpanzee troops, including the deliberate killing of young by dominant females, sometimes even cannibalism.

1977: Mystical experience at Notre Dame Cathedral

In 1977, Jane Goodall had a mystical experience at Notre Dame Cathedral, which she later described in her 1999 book Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey.

1978: End of Gombe Chimpanzee War

In 1978, the Gombe Chimpanzee War came to an end. Jane Goodall's observations of aggressive and violent behavior within chimpanzee troops, including instances of infanticide and cannibalism, challenged previous perceptions of chimpanzees.

1988: Gary Larson visits the research facility

In 1988, Gary Larson visited Jane Goodall's research facility in Tanzania where he was attacked by a chimpanzee named Frodo.

1999: Publication of Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey

In 1999, Jane Goodall's book, Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey, described the implications of a mystical experience she had at Notre Dame Cathedral in 1977.

Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey

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September 2010: Belief in a spiritual power

In September 2010, Jane Goodall stated that she believes in a great spiritual power, particularly when she is out in nature.

2012: Belief in undiscovered primate species

In 2012, Jane Goodall expressed her fascination with the possibility of undiscovered primate species, including cryptids like Sasquatch and Bigfoot, in an interview with the Huffington Post, stating she would "actually love them to exist."

2015: Endorsement and opposition to fox hunting

In 2015, Jane Goodall endorsed Caroline Lucas, a Green Party parliamentary candidate in the UK general election. Also in 2015, she opposed Conservative prime minister David Cameron's plan to amend the Hunting Act 2004, by signing a letter against fox hunting to Members of Parliament.

2017: Foreword to 'The Intelligence of the Cosmos'

In 2017, Jane Goodall wrote the foreword to the book The Intelligence of the Cosmos by Ervin Laszlo, where she expressed her belief in an Intelligence driving the process of evolution and a Supreme Being.

The Intelligence of the Cosmos: Why Are We Here? New Answers from the Frontiers of Science

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October 2024: "A Speech for History" at UNESCO

In October 2024, Jane Goodall gave "A Speech for History" at UNESCO, delivering an optimistic message on conservation and the role that everyone can play in preserving our planet by educating youth and communities to protect and respect the natural world.