CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Darwin's ancestry; his grandfather, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, a

successful physician, and author of "The Botanic Garden,'

"The Temple of Nature," &c.; his father, Robert Waring

Darwin, also a successful physician; his maternal grand-

father, Josiah Wedgwood, the celebrated potter; his

mother's education and training; Charles Robert Darwin,

born at Shrewsbury, Feb. 12, 1809; Mrs. Darwin dies in

July, 1817; her eldest son, Erasmus, friend of the

Carlyles; Charles Darwin's education by Mr. Case, and at

Shrewsbury Grammar School; his character as a boy; is

sent to Edinburgh University in 1825

CHAPTER II.

Darwin a member of the Plinian Society, of Edinburgh; makes
natural history excursions; his first scientific paper read
March, 27, 1827; friendship with Dr. Grant; Jameson's
lectures on zoology; Darwin enters Christ's College, Cam-
bridge, in 1828; his friendship with Prof. Henslow; his
account of Henslow; Darwin at this time specially an
entomologist; his excursions with Henslow; takes B.A.
degree in 1831, M.A. in 1837; voyage of Beagle proposed,
and Darwin appointed as naturalist; the Beagle sails on Dec.
27, 1831; Darwin's letters to Henslow published 1835;
1832, Darwin at Teneriffe, Cape de Verde Islands, St.
Paul's Rocks, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro (April); excursions
into interior and amusing adventures; his experiences and
horror of slavery; at Monte Video, July; Maldonado,,

Rio Negro; visit to Tierra del Fuego, Dec. 1832-Jan.

1833; rencontre with General Rosas; many extinct

animals discovered; Buenos Ayres, Sept. 1833; excur-

sion to Santa Fé; Port Desire, Dec. 1833; Port St.

Julian, Jan. 1834; Valparaiso, July 1834; expeditions

to the Andes, Santiago, &c.; Chiloe, Nov. 1834; the

Chonos Archipelago, Dec. 1834; Valdivia, Feb. 1835;

an earthquake experience; expedition across the Cordillera

in March, 1835; voyage across the Pacific commenced in

September; the Galapagos Archipelago and its interesting

animals; Tahiti, Nov. 1835; Darwin's opinion of

English products, and of the influence of Christian mis-

sionaries; New Zealand, Dec. 1835; Port Jackson, Jan.

1836; Tasmania, Feb.; the Keeling Islands, April ; the

homeward journey; Falmouth reached, Oct. 2, 1836;

Capt. Fitzroy's opinion of Darwin; Darwin's first impres

sion of savages

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CHAPTER III.

Darwin elected F.G.S.; Lyell's high opinion of him; secre-

tary of the Geological Society, Feb. 1838-41; reads

numerous papers before the Society; elected F.R.S., Jan.

24, 1839; marries his cousin, Miss Wedgwood, early in

1839; "Journal of Researches," published 1839, highly
praised in Quarterly Review; publication of zoology of the
Beagle (1839-43); extraordinary animals described therein;
other results of the voyage; plants described by Hooker
and Berkeley; work on "Coral Reefs " published 1842;
Darwin's new theory at once accepted; subsequent views
of Semper, Dana, and Murray; second and third parts of
Geology of Beagle ("Volcanic Islands" and "South
America"); other gcological papers; Darwin settles at
Down House, near Beckenham, 1842; appears at Oxford
meeting of British Association, 1847; contributes
chapter on Geology to Herschel's manual of Scientific
Enquiry; publishes great works on recent and fossil
cirripedia, 1851-4; receives Royal Medal of Royal
Society, 1853, and Wollaston Medal of Geological Society,
1859

CHAPTER IV.

Confusion in description of species; labours of Professors Owen
and Huxley; Darwin's ideas on the origin of species germi-
nated during the voyage of the Beagle; he collected facts,
1837-42; drew up a sketch, 1842; enlarged it in 1844;
previous speculations on the subject; views of Erasmus
Darwin, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, and Lamarck; Darwin's
opinion of Lamarck; influence of Lyell; influence of

South American experience; reads Malthus on Popula

tion; "Vestiges of Creation"; Mr. Herbert Spencer and

evolution; Lyell's letters; Sir Joseph Hooker on species;

Mr. A. R. Wallace communicates his views to Darwin;

Lyell and Hooker persuade Darwin to publish his views

together with those of Wallace; introductory letter by

Lyell and Hooker to Linnean Society, June 30, 1858;

Darwin's and Wallace's papers, read July 1, 1858; Sir J.

Hooker announces his adhesion to Darwin's views, 1859

CHAPTER V.

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64

Analysis of the "Origin of Species," published Nov. 1859;

special notes of Darwin's personal experiences; remark.

able growth of morphology and embryology since its

publication; opposition to the new views; criticisms of

leading journals and reviews; second edition of " Origin,"

called for in six weeks; third, in March 1861; historical

sketch of progress of opinion prefixed; alterations in

successive editions; sixth edition, 1872; foreign transla

tions

⚫ 79

CHAPTER VI.

Darwin's physical appearance, habits, distinguished visitors;
his kindliness; attachment of friends; his family; he
reads important botanical papers before the Linnean
Society; publishes the "Fertilisation of Orchids," 1862;
analysis of the book; Darwin receives Copley Medal of
Royal Society, 1864; "Movements and Habits of Climb-
ing Plants," 1865; "Variation of Animals and Plants under
Domestication," 1868; the hypothesis of pangenesis not
favourably received.

CHAPTER VII.

"The Descent of Man," 1871; Darwin's varied use of personal

experiences; his views on the differences between men and

women; his views on happiness and its promotion in man-

kind; reception of the "Descent of Man"; Punch,

the Quarterlies, The Saturday Review

CHAPTER VIII.

113

"Expression of the Emotions," 1872; Darwin's methods of

studying the question; his personal experiences; studies

of children; reminiscences of South American travel;

studies of monkeys; his wide study of novels; his in-

fluence on mental science
. 126

CHAPTER IX.

"Insectivorous Plants," 1875; how Darwin was led to study

them; analysis of the book; "Effects of Cross and Self-

Fertilisation," 1876; competitive germination and growth;

"The Different Forms of Flowers," 1877; "The Power

of Movement in Plants," 1880.

CHAPTER X.

Honours bestowed on Darwin; his reception at Cambridge in

1877; portraits by Richmond and Collier; Haeckel's and

De Candolle's descriptions of visits to Darwin; "The

Formation of Vegetable Mould by Earthworms," 1881;

the long series of experiments on which it was based;

obligations of archaeologists to worms; gradual exhaus-

tion in 1882; his death on April 19, 1882

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146

CHAPTER XI,

Darwin buried in Westminster Abbey, April 26, 1882; quota-

tion from The Times; subscriptions to Darwin memorial;

large number of subscriptions from Sweden; statue exe-

cuted by Mr. Boehm, placed in Museum of Natural

History, South Kensington, unveiled by Prince of Wales,

June 9, 1885; remainder of fund handed to Royal Society

to promote biological research; The Saturday Review on

Darwin; his geniality and humour; his influence on

others; his lack of prejudice; extracts from his letters;

letter on experiments on living animals; Darwin as an

experimenter; his attitude towards Christianity and revela-

tion; his literary style; his imagination; Prof. Huxley on

Darwin; Dr. Masters on his influence on horticulture;

Messrs. Sully and Winchell on his philosophy; conclusion 154-

INDEX

171.

NOTE.

ARWIN revealed himself so largely in his books,

DARWIN

that a vivid picture of much of his life can be extracted from them. Thus it has been found possible to combine much biographical interest with sketches of his most important works. Like other biographers of Darwin, I am much indebted to Mr. Woodall's valuable memoir, contributed to the Transactions of the Shropshire Archæological Society. But original authorities have been consulted throughout, and the first editions of Darwin's. books quoted, unless the contrary is explicitly stated. I am greatly obliged to Messrs. F. Darwin and G. J. Romanes for kindly permitting me to quote from Mr. Darwin's letters to Mr. Romanes. I must also express. my thanks to my friends, Mr. Romanes and Prof. D'Arcy W. Thompson, for doing me the great service of looking. over the proof-sheets of this book.