Samuel Wilberforce. Caricature of Samuel Wilberforce (1805-73), Bishop of Oxford and one of the British opponents of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Wilberforce was trained in public speaking and acquired the name 'Soapy Sam' because his eloquent style of speech made it difficult for opponents to beat him in debates. Wilberforce is mainly remembered for arguing against the Darwinist scientist T.H. Huxley during a debate on evolution at a meeting of the British Association in 1860. Huxley won the debate and his victory began the gradual, popular acceptance of the theory of evolution. Image drawn in 1869.