The year 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On The Origin of Species. The University of Cincinnati is marking these anniversaries with a year-long celebration of Darwin’s life and work. This series on the life of Charles Darwin is part of the celebration.
The 1859 publication of “On the Origin of Species” thrust Charles Darwin into the public spotlight. While scientists worldwide pondered, evaluated, and pronounced upon the efficacy of natural selection, much of the public focused on the meaning of evolution to human origins. It was inevitable, therefore, that Darwin would eventually feel compelled to write on the subject. Characteristically, Darwin put off publication until he felt satisfied that he had made the strongest argument possible. His treatise on human evolution, “The Descent of Man,” was finally published in April 1871.
In “Descent,” Darwin laid out evidence that humans are animals that display a continuity of anatomy, physiology, and psychology with other animals. This continuity, he argued, is best explained through descent from a non-human (probably ape-like) ancestor. “Descent” also introduced Darwin’s theory of sexual selection. This theory, developed in response to criticisms from Thomas Huxley, sought to explain the occurrence of seemingly maladaptive features like large antlers, courtship displays, and bright plumage. Darwin argued that these traits were the result of male competition for mates and of female mate choice. Selection and perpetuation of traits, he contended, need not be strictly environmental.
Having closely noted the response to previous suggestions of a simian ancestry, Darwin was understandably worried that criticism of “Descent” would be harsh. Much to his surprise, contemporary reaction was fairly mild, and Darwin remained popular with the non-scientific public. This popularity, however, masked a growing estrangement and antipathy between Darwin and some of his acquaintances. Ongoing (often heated) debate over the efficacy of natural selection strained already tense relationships with zoologist St. George Mivart and anatomist Richard Owen. By the mid-1870s all cordiality was gone, and Charles openly expressed disdain and contempt for both. Even close colleagues drifted out of Charles’ familiarity. Discord over divine guidance of evolution drove a wedge between Darwin and long-time friend Charles Lyell. The discord would remain a fissure between them until Lyell’s death in 1875.
At Down House Darwin’s life fell into an uneven routine of illness, experimentation, writing, and vacationing. Charles indulged in billiards when he could, while he and Emma continued the nightly backgammon battles begun soon after their marriage. Friends and family visited frequently as Charles rarely left the residence. Between 1870 and 1880 Darwin focused much of his experimentation on tracking the movement of climbing plants, determining the fertility of self-pollinating flowers, and investigating the carnivorous behavior of sundew plants. Over several months in 1872 and 1873 Darwin fed his sundews milk, roast beef, alcohol, urine, and hard-boiled eggs, all of which the plants digested nicely. Turning more aggressive, he exposed them to various poisons. Strychnine and quinine, he found, were fatal to sundews, while cobra venom acted as a stimulant.
What routine there was at Down House was happily broken with the birth of Bernard Richard Darwin, Charles and Emma’s first grandchild, on September 7, 1876. Sadly, the baby’s mother Amy died of fever just four days later. The baby and Francis moved into Down House almost immediately. Francis helped his father map the movement of vines, observe nighttime leaf folding, and record plant responses to slamming doors and loud music. But the pace of study was beginning to tell. By 1879, periods of work were getting shorter, while periods of rest were getting longer. Darwin was clearly tiring.
There are several outstanding biographies of Charles Darwin readily available to the public. The definitive biography is a two volume work by E. Janet Browne titled Charles Darwin: Voyaging and Charles Darwin: The Power of Place. Darwin: the Life of a Tormented Evolutionist by Adrian Desmond and James Moore is also highly regarded. For a shorter biography of Darwin try The Reluctant Mr. Darwin by David Quammen.