Life of Charles Darwin

E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, René Anderson Benitz, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
Transcriber’s Note: Minor printer's errors have been corrected without note. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected and are underlined in the text. The original text appears in a mouse hoverbox over each corrected typographical error, like this. Page 14 contains a reference to “pages 66 and 67” which refers to a footnote spanning both pages in the book. The link provided goes to that footnote at the end of the text.
EDITED BY PROFESSOR ERIC S. ROBERTSON, M.A.,
LONDON WALTER SCOTT 24 WARWICK LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW 1887
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DARWIN revealed himself so largely in his books, 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.

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IF ever a man’s ancestors transmitted to him ability to succeed in a particular field, Charles Darwin’s did. If ever early surroundings were calculated to call out inherited ability, Charles Darwin’s were. If ever a man grew up when a ferment of thought was disturbing old convictions in the domain of knowledge for which he was adapted, Charles Darwin did. If ever a man was fitted by worldly position to undertake unbiassed and long-continued investigations, Charles Darwin was such a man. And he indisputably found realms waiting for a conqueror. Yet Darwin’s achievements far transcend his advantages of ancestry, surroundings, previous suggestion, position. He stands magnificently conspicuous as a genius of rare simplicity of soul, of unwearied patience of observation, of striking fertility and ingenuity of method, of unflinching devotion to and belief in the efficacy of truth. He revolutionised not merely half-a-dozen sciences, but the whole current of thinking men’s mental life.