William Charles Wells was a Scottish physician and scientist born in 1757. He is best known for his work in the field of anthropology and for being one of the early proponents of the theory of natural selection. Wells conducted studies on the physical characteristics of different human populations, contributing to the understanding of human variation. In addition to his anthropological work, Wells made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He published several papers on topics such as respiration and the effects of climate on health. His research laid the groundwork for future studies in both anthropology and medicine, influencing later scientists and researchers.