Victorian cartoon attempting to ridicule Darwin's theory of evolution. The ape in this illustration is appealing to Henry Bergh (the founder of the ASPCA) for defense against Darwin's cruel claims. Henry Bergh (August 29, 1813 - March 12, 1888) founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in April, 1866, three days after the first effective legislation against animal cruelty in the United States was passed into law by the New York State Legislature. By 1886, 39 states of had adopted substantially the original laws procured by him from the legislature of New York. He died in 1888 at the age of 74.