WESTERMARCK, EDWARD ALEXANDER, (1862 1939), Finnish anthropologist, was born at Helsingfors on Nov. 20, 1862. He was educated at a lyceum in his native town, and at the University of Finland where he later became professor of moral philosophy. In 1890 he went to England, and from 1907 to 193o was professor of sociology at the University of London.
He made a special study of primitive marriage and ethical origins, and published The Origin of Human Marriage (1889) ; The History of Human Marriage (1889, sth ed. rewritten in 3 vol. 1921) ; The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas (1906) ; Marriage Ceremonies in Morocco, 2 vol.