Charles Robert Darwin FRS (1809 - 1882)

Born 12 Feb 1809 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Emma (Wedgwood) Darwin — married 29 Jan 1839 in Maer, Staffordshire, England

Descendants

Died 19 Apr 1882 at age 73 in Down House, Bromley, Kent, England

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Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contributions to evolutionary theory.

Biography

Charles Darwin FRS is Notable.

Charles Darwin FRS was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.

Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist and botanist. His best-known book, entitled On the Origin of Species, was written in 1859, and explored the theory that all species of life had descended from a common ancestor.

Early Life

Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on 12 February 1809, and baptised at St Chad's in Shrewsbury on 15 November of that year.^[1] He was the second son of Dr Robert Darwin, and his wife Susannah, (the daughter of Josiah Wedgwood, Unitarian pottery industrialist). He came from a family of inquiring minds. His grandfather, physician and natural philosopher, Erasmus Darwin, had written 'Would it be too bold to imagine, that in the great length of time, since the earth began to exist … that all warm-blooded animals have arisen from one living filament, which the great first cause endued with animality'^[2] but he had died in 1802.

Charles's mother died 1817, and his father Robert grieved alone, keeping his feelings to himself. He threw himself into his work, often staying away overnight to care for his patients with the older girls providing much of the care for Charles and his younger sister Catherine, including their early education. Charles's brother Erasmus was a boarder at Shrewsbury School and at the age of ten Charles joined him. Charles and Erasmus became closer in his teens and the brothers travelled together to view natural and man-made wonders, and to visit friends and relatives, sometimes with his Wedgwood cousins and sisters Caroline and Catherine.^[3]

At the age of sixteen, Charles was accompanying his father on his rounds and seeing some patients of his own. This suggested to his father that a medical career was a good choice for Charles and he was sent to the University of Edinburgh where his brother was studying. However this did not prove to be the career path that Charles desired and whilst he enjoyed chemistry lectures the rest of his studies were of no interest. He spent his time on self-education in natural history and became a member of the Plinian Society, a student body interested in natural science.^[3]

After admitting to his father that he did not want to be a doctor it was decided that he would become a clergyman.^[4] Charles entered Christ's College Cambridge in January 1828^[5] to study for the requisite degree for this career path. Charles wrote 'the three years which I spent at Cambridge my time was wasted, as far as the academical studies were concerned, as completely as at Edinburgh and at school.'^[4] Although he neglected his formal studies Charles wrote that 'the whole three years which I spent at Cambridge were the most joyful in my happy life ; for I was then in excellent health, and almost always in high spirits.'^[4] Charles was plagued with health problems throughout his life thus three years of excellent health would have been a significant memory.

His time at Cambridge was also to be a turning point in his life. Charles continued to expand his knowledge of natural history through his own observations and collections, and through his growing friendship with leading academics of the time including William Whewell, Leonard Jenyns and most importantly of all, John Stevens Henslow who was Charles's mentor, teacher and friend. Henslow had recommended Charles to Captain Robert FitzRoy who was looking for a self-funded naturalist to accompany him on a survey expedition expected to last two years.

Career

Charles was accepted on board HMS Beagle, not as the naturalist for the journey of discovery (this position was held by Robert McCormick who was appointed as the ship's surgeon and naturalist), but as a 'supernumerary', to provide assistance to Captain FitzRoy and also as a 'finished naturalist' to help in the identification and classification of specimens.^[6] McCormack initially worked with Charles on collecting specimens but was increasingly overlooked for onshore expeditions and eventually invalided home in 1832 leaving Darwin as the sole naturalist on board.^[7]

The ship set sail at the end of December 1831, and Darwin spent nearly 5 years on the journey, collecting exhibits and compiling a diary of the voyage.^[8]

Publications

Charles was a prolific writer of books, manuscripts and letters. Prior to the release of his most famous work, On the Origin of Species in 1859, he had already published numerous books both in his own right and as a contributor. See Darwin Online^[9] for an extensive list of his books, pamphlets and manuscripts and the Darwin Correspondence Project^[10] which is researching all known letters to and from Charles Darwin.

Marriage and Family

Charles married his cousin Emma Wedgwood, in Maer, Staffordshire on 29 January 1839,^[11] and together they had 10 children. They started their married life living in Gower Street, London, where their first two children William and Ann were born, before relocating a few years later to Down, near Bromley in Kent, although frequent visits were made to Maer, where Emma's parents and grandparents were living.

The 1841 census showed Charles and Emma visiting Emma's family in Maer Hall, with their son William and daughter Anne.^[12]

By 1851, the family were settled in their home Down House, near Bromley, Kent. Although Charles appeared to be absent on census night, Emma and their children George, Elizabeth, Francis and Leonard were all at home.^[13]

The household at Down house in 1861, comprised Charles, now shown as a Justice Of the Peace, MA and Author Of Scientific Works, his wife Emma and 7 of their children, together with 11 servants.^[14]

The family were visiting Charles' older brother Erasmus Darwin when the 1871 census was taken. Erasmus was still unmarried, resided at 6, Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, and was classified as an annuitant and landowner. Charles, now age 62, gave his occupation as shareholder, Sol (solicitor) and J.P., so he was still very much involved with local affairs in Down. Residing with the two brothers were Charles' wife Emma, 4 of their children, and 5 servants.^[15]

Back in Down House in 1881, the next census showed Charles and Emma with their son William, (now married to Sarah and with their first son Bernard), and their remaining unmarried children Elizabeth, George and Francis. Charles' occupation simply stated M.A.,L.L.D. (Cambs) F.R.S. J.P.^[16]

Charles passed away at Down House on 19 April 1882, age 73 years.^[17]

He was buried at Westminster Abbey on 26 April 1882, the national press reported the event fully, and this extract was from the London Evening Standard:^[18]

• The remains of the late Mr Darwin were laid to rest yesterday in Westminster Abbey, and a vast assemblage witnessed the sad ceremony....the body was removed on Tuesday evening from the residence of the deceased, Down House, Kent to Westminster, and placed within the precincts of the Abbey. Yesterday morning it was taken to the Chapter House, where a large number of noblemen and gentlemen, most of whom are eminent in literature and science, were assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to the most famous naturalist of our time.

The entry in the probate calendar for Charles reads:^[19]

• DARWIN Charles Robert Esq. 6 June 1882. The will of Charles Robert Darwin late of Down near Beckenham in the County of Kent, Esquire, who died 19 April 1882 at Down, was proved at the Principal Registry by William Erasmus Darwin of Southampton in the County of Southampton, banker, and George Howard Darwin of Trinity College, Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge, the Sons, the Executors. Personal Estate: £146,911 7s 10d.

Children

Charles and Emma had 10 children:

• William Eramus Darwin, born in 1839, in St Pancras, Middlesex
• Ann Elizabeth Darwin, born in 1841 in St Pancras, Middlesex
• Mary Eleanor Darwin, born and died at Down House in 1842
• Henrietta Emma Darwin, born at Down House in 1843
• George Howard Darwin, born at Down House in 1845
• Elizabeth Darwin, born at Down House in 1847
• Francis Darwin, born at Down House in 1848
• Leonard Darwin, born at Down House in 1850
• Horace Darwin, born at Down House in 1851
• Charles Waring Darwin, born at Down House in 1856, and died there in 1858

Health Problems

Charles Darwin suffered from illness throughout his adult life exhibiting a myriad of symptoms. These symptoms included intestinal problems, muscle weakness, trembling, palpitations, anxiety and depression, visual disturbances, breathing problems, eczema, swelling of his face, hands and leg, fatigue and severe seasickness. Numerous causes of his illnesses have been proposed with many having a psychogenic or psychological basis. A study by John Hayman into Charles Darwin's symptoms and similar symptoms of close family members suggest that he could have been suffering from Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome. Mitochondria and mitochondrial disorders are maternally inherited. An examination of Darwin’s family history provides supporting evidence that Charles Darwin had such an inherited mitochondrial disorder.^[20]

DNA

National Geographic's Genographic Project has examined the DNA of Charles Darwin's great-great grandson revealing Haplogroup R1b, the most common for European males.‍^[21][22]

International Darwin Day is celebrated worldwide on the 12 February, to commemorate the anniversary of his birth.^[23]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J362-MP8 : 11 February 2018, Charles Robt. Darwin, 12 Feb 1809); citing SAINT CHAD,SHREWSBURY,SHROPSHIRE,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 908,236.
2. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Darwin, Erasmus (1731–1802)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Aydon, Cyril. A Brief Guide to Charles Darwin, 2013.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Darwin, Charles, and Francis Darwin. The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, Including an Autobiographical Chapter.,London, John Murray, 1887, Vol. I, Chapter 2. https://archive.org/details/lifelettersofc01darw
5. ↑ University of Cambridge, John Venn, and J. A. (John Archibald) Venn. Alumni Cantabrigienses; a Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1900, Pt. 2: From 1752 to 1900. v. 1, Cambridge, University Press, 1922. http://archive.org/details/p2alumnicantabri02univuoft.
6. ↑ Padian, Kevin. "Ten Myths about Charles Darwin." Bioscience 59, no. 9 (10, 2009): 800-804.
7. ↑ Wikipedia entry for Robert McCormick
8. ↑ National Geographic [1]
9. ↑ Darwin Online
10. ↑ Darwin Correspondence Project, n.d. https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/
11. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLQ8-KYNF : 11 December 2017), Emma Wedgwood and Charles Robert Darwin, 1839.
12. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQT4-XN8 : 12 December 2017), Charles Darwin in the household of Josiah Wedgwood, Maer, Staffordshire, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
13. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGRH-KLC : 8 November 2017), Emma Darwin, Down, Kent, England; citing Down, Kent, England, p. 5, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
14. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MP-Q1RF : 12 December 2017), Emma Darwin in the household of Charles R Darwin, Down, Kent, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
15. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRJM-1CR : 9 December 2017), Charles R Darwin in the entry for Erasmus A Darwin, 1871.
16. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27W-9V3N : 11 December 2017), Emma Darwin in household of Charles Robert Darwin, Downe Aka Down, Kent, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,"
17. ↑ (https://www.freebmd.org.uk) GRO index Q2 1882 Bromley vol 2a page 224.
18. ↑ Findmypast newspaper archive [2]
19. ↑ Gov.UK, Find a Will (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills)
20. ↑ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Hayman, J. (2013). Charles Darwin’s mitochondria. Genetics,194(1), 21–25. doi: 10.1534/genetics.113.151241.
21. ↑ Malkin, B. (2010, February 4). Charles Darwin's genetic history unlocked by DNA project. The Telegraph.[3]
22. ↑ Braun, D.M. (2010, February 4). DNA tests reveal origins of Charles Darwin. National Geographic.[4]
23. ↑ Wikipedia entry Darwin Day

See also:

• The Britannica Guide to The 100 Most Influential Scientists (2007), pp. 64, 87,171, 175-185, 189, 200, 201, 205.
• Wikipedia: Charles Darwin
• Wikidata: Item Q1035, en:Wikipedia
• Freeman, R. B. (1982). "The Darwin Family," in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 17 (pp.9-21). N.p.
• Wikipedia: Down House
• Wikipedia: Recipients of Pour le Mérite
• Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882), Naturalist, geologist . . photo . . 34 portraits npg uk, and his Blue Plaque in London, replaced in 1961
  

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