Francis Sacheverel Darwin
Encyclopedia
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
.
Early life
Francis Sacheverel was a son of Erasmus DarwinErasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin was an English physician who turned down George III's invitation to be a physician to the King. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave trade abolitionist,inventor and poet...
and his second wife Elizabeth (née) Collier, widow of Col Edward Pole and natural daughter of Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore KT was a Scottish nobleman, known as Beau Colyear for his conspicuous dress....
. He was an uncle (and godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
) of Francis Galton
Francis Galton
Sir Francis Galton /ˈfrɑːnsɪs ˈgɔːltn̩/ FRS , cousin of Douglas Strutt Galton, half-cousin of Charles Darwin, was an English Victorian polymath: anthropologist, eugenicist, tropical explorer, geographer, inventor, meteorologist, proto-geneticist, psychometrician, and statistician...
, half-brother of Robert Waring Darwin and a half-uncle of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
.
He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
.
Travels
In 1808, at 22, he started with four others, one of whom was his brother-in-lawBrother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
Theodore Galton, on a tour through Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the Mediterranean and the East
The East
The East may refer to:* Eastern world, a group of various cultures and countries in Asia* Eastern philosophy, referring to a specific worldview* Eastern United States or East Coast of the United States* Eastern Roman Empire...
. Travelling was not then what it is now, and they came in contact with war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, robbers, privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
s and the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
in the diary of this two years' tour in the East. Of the five who started, only Darwin returned alive.
The diary of the tour shows a keen antiquarian taste gratified under many difficulties, and it is recognised that Darwin not only loved adventure for its own sake, but was a born naturalist also, whose ready pencil followed a keen eye, where rock and mineral, plant and beast were concerned, as readily as when it portrayed an archaeological novelty or displayed the costumes of Greece or Turkey. Typical of the man is the account he gives of the plague in Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
; instead of flying from the place, he remarks
On the 2nd day we again found ourselves at Smyrna amongst the plague, which had increased, 400 persons having died in our absence. I had now an opportunity of watching the progress of this disorder in several English sailors, who having been on shore, had caught the infection. I also visited the Armenian, and Greek hospitals, where numbers were dying daily of the plague (p. 55).
At Smyrna also we hear the tale of a gun discharged immediately under the window, which their host informed them was the shooting of another cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
by a soldier posted to shoot the cats coming out of the next house where everybody but the baby had died of plague; the cats being the chief transporters of the infection. Darwin, wanting more experience of the plague, on another return to Smyrna undertook by invitation of the native physicians charge of several hospitals, of which the Greek and Armenian contained each 120 patients.
This was a good opportunity to become conversant, with the diseases of the climate, and from constant observation I found the plague was frequently checked by an active practice of which the Medici of the East were totally ignorant. Intermittent fevers and the Lepra Graecorum are very peculiar in the Levant. Hard eggs and salt fish being the hospital diet, phthisis is most prevalent.
During the tour Darwin visited Tangiers, Tetuan, and attempted to get into Fes
Fes, Morocco
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
, not then visited by European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s, but was not permitted to reach that closed centre of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Marriage and children
On 16 December 1815 he married Jane Harriet Ryle (11 December 1794 - 19 April 1866) - at St. George, Hanover Square LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They had the following children:
- Mary Jane Darwin (12 February 1817 -1872), married Charles Carill-Worsley of Platt Hall, near Manchester, in 1840. One daughter,
- Elizabeth (d 1927), married Nicolas Tindal of Aylesbury Manor. Four children survived infancy (surnamed Tindal-Carill-Worsley):
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- Charles (d 1920), Captain RN, married Rose Dalby, leaving no issue;
- Ralph (d 1967), Commander RN, married Kathleen, d of Simon Mangan of Dunboyne Castle, Co Meath, leaving a son and two daughters:
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- Nicolas, Grp Capt RAFNicolas Tindal-Carill-WorsleyGroup Captain Nicolas Tindal-Carill-Worsley RAF , son of Cmdr Ralph Tindal-Carill-Worsley, RN, was a bomber pilot during the Second War and helped plan and execute the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III, where he was imprisoned between 1940 and 1945.-Great Escape:His particular responsibility...
(1911-2006), married Winnifred, d of Major Henry Cooper, leaving seven children; - Sheila (d 1953), married Raymond O'Neill SC, leaving four children;
- Margaret (1909-2008), Convent of the Sacred Heart;
- Nicolas, Grp Capt RAF
- Clementia (d 1969), married Phillip Frank of East Carleton Manor, Norfolk, became Tindal-Carill-Worsley, by Royal Licence. leaving two sons and one daughter
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- Geoffrey, Air Commodore, Married 1st Berys Gilmour, left a son Philip Nicolas.
- Peter, Lt Col, married Rosemary Lloyd Davidson and has a son and daughter;
- Elizabeth, married Richard Holland.
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- Acton, early winter sports pioneer at Davos, died unmarried;
- Reginald Darwin (4 April 1818-1892)
- Emma Elizabeth Darwin (27 February 1820-22 December 1898), married Edward Woollett Wilmot in 1842.
- Edward Levett DarwinEdward Levett DarwinCapt. Edward Levett Darwin , author under the pen-name High Elms of Gameskeeper's Manual, a guide for gamekeepers on large estates which shows keen observation of the habits of various animals....
(12 April 1821-1901) - Frances Sarah Darwin (19 July 1822-1881), married Gustavus Barton in 1845, widowed 1846 and remarried to Marcus Huish (the father of the art dealer Marcus Bourne HuishMarcus Bourne HuishMarcus Bourne Huish was a British barrister, writer and art dealer.He was the son of Marcus Huish of Castle Donington and his wife Margaret Jane Bourne...
) in 1849. - Georgiana Elizabeth Darwin (12 August 1823-1902), married Rev. Benjamin Swift in 1862.
- Violetta Harriot Darwin (5 March 1826-1880)
- Ann Eliza Thomasine Darwin (2 June 1828-1904)
- Millicent Susan Darwin (26 March 1833-1899), married Rev. Henry Oldershaw in 1861.
- John Robert Darwin (29 March 1835-1899)
- Acton, early winter sports pioneer at Davos, died unmarried;
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Later life
The strange element in Darwin's life is that he returned home, and after a short practice in LichfieldLichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, where his father had a practice, settled down at Breadsall Priory
Breadsall Priory
thumb|right|A line drawing of Breadsall Priory, by [[Francis S. Darwin]]'s daughter Violetta H. Darwin .Breadsall Priory is a former priory in Derbyshire...
in a wild out of the way part of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and spent his days in studying archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
and natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
without ulterior end; his place was full of animal oddities there were wild pigs in the woods, and tame snakes in the house.
He transmitted his love of natural history to his son Edward Levett Darwin, author (under the name of "High Elms") of a 'Gamekeeper's Manual' (4th Edition 1863), which shows keen observation of the habits of various animals.
Darwin was knighted by George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
in 1820, and was also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
Both he and his wife are buried at Breadsall Priory
Breadsall Priory
thumb|right|A line drawing of Breadsall Priory, by [[Francis S. Darwin]]'s daughter Violetta H. Darwin .Breadsall Priory is a former priory in Derbyshire...
, and a memorial plaque to them and some of their family is located in All Saints Church, Breadsall.