To Robert FitzRoy [28 August 1834]
Summary
Recounts his trip [from Valparaiso] to Santiago. His meeting with Claude Gay, Thomas Sutcliffe, and others. Geology of tour uninteresting.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert FitzRoy |
Date: | [28 Aug 1834] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 115 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-254 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … His meeting with Claude Gay, Thomas Sutcliffe, and others. Geology of tour uninteresting. …
- … accounts respecting the geography, geology, statistics, government, finances, agriculture, …
- … enabled me to understand a little of the Geology—there is nothing of particular interest— …
- … with some interesting details about the Geology of this province published by himself in …
To J. S. Henslow March 1834
Summary
On fossils ([Megatherium], etc.), plants, shells sent and new ones found; geological observations. Asks for help in understanding cleavage and planes of deposition.
A new species of ostrich. Cites differences in size, colour, nidification, and geographical distribution.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | Mar 1834 |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 21 DAR/1/1/21) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-238 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the …
- … 43. Lyell, Charles. 1830–3. Principles of geology, being an attempt to explain the former …
- … Charles Darwin’s notebooks, 1836–1844. Geology, transmutation of species, metaphysical …
- … President & Master. — I am quite charmed with Geology but like the wise animal between two …
- … fine weather, glorious scenery, the geology of the Andes; plains abounding with organic …
- … third volume of Lyell’s Principles of geology (1833). CD first mentions having received it …
To Catherine Darwin 6 April 1834
Summary
Describes Patagonia and its inhabitants.
Writes of his pleasure in geology.
Predicts that Falklands will become an "important halting place". Outlines Beagle’s future itinerary.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Emily Catherine (Catherine) Darwin; Emily Catherine (Catherine) Langton |
Date: | 6 Apr 1834 |
Classmark: | DAR 223 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-242 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … inhabitants. Writes of his pleasure in geology. Predicts that Falklands will become an " …
- … meat for dinner on Christmas day. — The geology of this district abounds with interest; …
- … long to be at work in the Cordilleras, the geology of this side, which I understand pretty …
- … or Elephant There is nothing like geology; the pleasure of the first days partridge …
To Catherine Darwin 20–9 July 1834
Summary
In the past six months he has done much geology and natural history. His geological pursuits are a source of high pleasure. Has lately determined to work chiefly on corals.
Spent three weeks going up the Santa Cruz with a party; they ran out of provisions 20 miles from the Cordilleras. Winter at present prevents his doing much natural history.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Emily Catherine (Catherine) Darwin; Emily Catherine (Catherine) Langton |
Date: | 20–9 July 1834 |
Classmark: | DAR 223 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-248 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … the past six months he has done much geology and natural history. His geological pursuits …
- … of researches : Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
- … during this period to do so much in Geology & Natural History, that I look back to Tierra …
- … any value. — I have however found the geology of these countries so different from what I …
To Caroline Darwin 13 October 1834
Summary
Became ill two weeks before on his return from Santiago after an interesting trip and some geology – though snow kept him out of the Andes. FitzRoy has had to sell the schooner; he was discouraged by the Admiralty, and the expense was too much for him to bear personally.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Darwin; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Wedgwood |
Date: | 13 Oct 1834 |
Classmark: | DAR 223 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-259 |
To J. S. Henslow 24 July – 7 November 1834
Summary
CD is excited by JSH’s high opinion of his collections.
Discusses his notes and some new discoveries. Summary of events since leaving Falklands.
Geology of Patagonia.
Corallines at Tierra del Fuego convince him of artificiality of arrangement of their families by Lamarck and Cuvier.
Geological expedition in Andes, ending with serious illness. Specimens being sent.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 24 July & 28 Oct & 7 Nov 1834 |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 22 DAR/1/1/22) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-251 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … Summary of events since leaving Falklands. Geology of Patagonia. Corallines at Tierra del …
- … quarto pages full; about half of this is Geology, the other imperfect descriptions of …
- … you will have some hard work in winnowing my Geology; what little I know, I have learnt in …
- … Miocene’ in volume three of Principles of geology , p. 54. Jean Vincent Félix Lamouroux . …
To Charles Whitley 23 July 1834
Summary
Would welcome hearing Cambridge news. Impossible not to regret friends and pleasures in England, but
has much solid enjoyment and never-failing interest in geology. Tells of his first sight of a savage.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Thomas Whitley |
Date: | 23 July 1834 |
Classmark: | National Library of Australia (MS 4260) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-250 |
To Edward Lumb 30 March 1834
Summary
CD asks the time of shipment and vessel in which the [Megatherium] bones were conveyed.
Patagonia swarms with guanaco, but few other creatures.
Hopes to be able to draw up a tolerable sketch of the geology of the east side of S. America.
Saw Jemmy Button, who is married and will stay in Tierra del Fuego. Mentions Falkland uprising.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edward Lumb |
Date: | 30 Mar 1834 |
Classmark: | Profiles in History (dealers) (2006) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-241 |
From H. S. Fox 25 July 1834
Summary
Thanks CD for letter of 5 April and specimens; did not know the Falklands and Patagonia were so interesting geologically.
Will answer CD’s queries about S. Brazil in another letter. Names Friedrich Sellow, A. Saint-Hilaire, and Andrew Mathews as naturalists who travelled there. Directs CD to Alexander Caldcleugh in Santiago.
Author: | Henry Stephen Fox |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 July 1834 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 123 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-252 |
From Thomas Sutcliffe [28 August – 5 September 1834]
Summary
Gives a map of part of Chile between Santiago and San Fernando. Suggests places and people that CD might profitably visit [en route].
Author: | Thomas Sutcliffe |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [28 Aug – 5 Sept 1834] |
Classmark: | DAR 35: 405 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-255 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the …
To Caroline Darwin 9–12 August 1834
Summary
Thanks for her letter of March, which gave him his first explanation of the interest in the [Megatherium] head he had sent.
Wants E. A. Darwin to tell William Clift not to remove numbers or markers on any specimens. The British Museum has first claim on any of his specimens; CD cannot at present say where any should go.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Darwin; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Wedgwood |
Date: | 9–12 Aug 1834 |
Classmark: | DAR 223 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-253 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … fossils, is their connection with the geology of the Pampas, & this entirely rests on the …
From F. W. Hope 15 January 1834
Summary
Acknowledges CD’s letter about alpine entomology of Tierra del Fuego; discusses geographical distribution; urges CD to make a chart of vegetable and geological distribution of insects. Advises him on species to collect and assures him of all assistance in describing his captures on his return.
Tells of founding of Entomological Society, and enrolls CD.
News of J. F. Stephens’ lawsuit and continuation of his Illustrations of British entomology [1827–46]. Praises general state of zoological science in England.
Author: | Frederick William Hope |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 15 Jan 1834 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 127 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-235 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … the Sum will nearly reach the £400. As to Geology from sending home the much desired bones …
Darwin, C. R. | (9) |
Fox, H. S. | (1) |
Hope, F. W. | (1) |
Sutcliffe, Thomas | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (3) |
Darwin, Caroline | (2) |
Darwin, Catherine | (2) |
Henslow, J. S. | (2) |
Langton, Catherine | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (12) |
Darwin, Caroline | (2) |
Darwin, Catherine | (2) |
Henslow, J. S. | (2) |
Langton, Catherine | (2) |
Darwin & Geology
Summary
The lessons Darwin learned from Adam Sedgwick at Cambridge, and in the field in North Wales, stood him in good stead during the Beagle voyage. While he was attached to the Beagle from 1831 to 1835, Darwin actually spent about two-thirds of his time ashore,…
Matches: 8 hits
- … actually spent about two-thirds of his time ashore, where geology was his single most frequent …
- … and the coral reefs of the Pacific, Darwin’s notes on geology accumulated twice as fast as those on …
- … he believed the same basic processes that had shaped the geology of South America were also at work …
- … of the previous decade by publishing three volumes on the geology of the Beagle voyage, but as …
- … for further reading… On Darwin’s work in geology: Herbert, Sandra. 2005. …
- … A. 1991. The discovery of a vocation: Darwin’s early geology. British Journal for the History of …
- … of Science 9: 199–218. On the history of geology: Greene, Mott C. 1982. …
- … Laudan, Rachel. 1994 [1987]. From mineralogy to geology . Chicago: University of Chicago Press …
The geology of the Beagle voyage
Summary
The primary concern that linked much of Darwin’s geological work in the Beagle years was to understand the changing relation between the levels of land and sea. As he studied the shores of South America, and discovered shells inland at thousands of feet…
Darwin’s introduction to geology
Summary
Darwin collected minerals as a child and was introduced to the science of geology at the University of Edinburgh, but he only became actively interested in the subject as he was completing his degree at Cambridge.
Bibliography of Darwin’s geological publications
Summary
This list includes papers read by Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the geology of the Beagle voyage, and other publications on geological topics. Author-date citations refer to entries in the Darwin Correspondence Project’s…
Matches: 10 hits
- … Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the geology of the Beagle voyage, and …
- … and distribution of coral reefs. Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, …
- … of HMS Beagle, together with some brief notices on the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good …
- … observations on South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, …
- … London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1846. [F273.] —On the geology of the Falkland Islands. …
- … [ Shorter publications , pp. 209-17. F1677.] —Geology. Section VI, pp. 156-95, in A …
- … for further reading… On Darwin’s work in geology: Herbert, Sandra. 2005. …
- … James A. 1991. The discovery of a vocation: Darwin’s early geology. British Journal for the …
- … of Science 9: 199–218. On the history of geology: Greene, Mott C. 1982. …
- … Laudan, Rachel. 1994 [1987]. From mineralogy to geology . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. …
Darwin in letters, 1847-1850: Microscopes and barnacles
Summary
Darwin's study of barnacles, begun in 1844, took him eight years to complete. The correspondence reveals how his interest in a species found during the Beagle voyage developed into an investigation of the comparative anatomy of other cirripedes and…
Matches: 8 hits
- … Hooker: ‘I hope this next summer to finish my S. American geology; then to get out a little zoology …
- … from these years and a series of interesting exchanges on geology with David Milne, Robert Chambers, …
- … through the mountains. Hooker writes of the complicated geology of the area, of the community of …
- … with which they had come to regard each other. Geology, and geological controversy …
- … Sir John Frederick William Herschel, to write the chapter on geology ( letter to J. F. W. Herschel, …
- … the zoological chapter, show how they divided the topics of geology and zoology between them. Owen …
- … contribute most to the leading questions of contemporary geology. Perhaps with himself in mind, he …
- … in the preparation of new editions of his Principles of geology and Manual of elementary …
Darwin in letters, 1837–1843: The London years to 'natural selection'
Summary
The seven-year period following Darwin's return to England from the Beagle voyage was one of extraordinary activity and productivity in which he became recognised as a naturalist of outstanding ability, as an author and editor, and as a professional…
Matches: 8 hits
- … on various subjects to major theoretical monographs in geology. In addition, he organised and …
- … and sold separately as Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
- … one of Darwin’s visits to Maer in Staffordshire. Geology Darwin’s work and …
- … an application of his Beagle work, and it too was in geology. In 1838 he set out on a geological …
- … of the Beagle voyage In addition to his work on geology Darwin undertook to provide a …
- … network that Darwin established as he worked on the geology and zoology of the voyage a most …
- … lately been sadly tempted to be idle, that is as far as pure geology is concerned, by the delightful …
- … these years was that it put an end to further field work in geology. From his South American days he …
The Lyell–Lubbock dispute
Summary
In May 1865 a dispute arose between John Lubbock and Charles Lyell when Lubbock, in his book Prehistoric times, accused Lyell of plagiarism. The dispute caused great dismay among many of their mutual scientific friends, some of whom took immediate action…
Matches: 4 hits
- … Lyell had begun work on a sixth edition of Elements of geology (C. Lyell 1865). At the same time …
- … book had been completed and set in type for Elements of geology in 1860 and then re-set in 1861 …
- … in 1860 for the sixth edition of the ‘ Elements of geology ’ 34 [C. Lyell 1865], and the …
- … , pp. lx–lxxv. Lyell, Charles. 1865. Elements of geology, or the ancient changes of the …
Commentary
Summary
This section provides pages of commentary on the following themes: Evolution Geology Life sciences Human nature Religion
Matches: 1 hits
- … on the following themes: Evolution Geology Life sciences …
Darwin & coral reefs
Summary
The central idea of Darwin's theory of coral reef formation, as it was later formulated, was that the islands were formed by the upward growth of coral as the Pacific Ocean floor gradually subsided. It overturned previous ideas and would in itself…
Darwin & the Geological Society
Summary
The science of geology in the early nineteenth century was a relatively new enterprise forged from the merging of several distinct traditions of inquiry, from mineralogy and the very practical business of mining, to theories of the earth’s origin and the…
Science, Work and Manliness
Summary
Discussion Questions|Letters In 1859, popular didactic writer William Landels published the first edition of what proved to be one of his best-selling works, How Men Are Made. "It is by work, work, work" he told his middle class audience, …
Darwin in letters, 1844–1846: Building a scientific network
Summary
The scientific results of the Beagle voyage still dominated Darwin's working life, but he broadened his continuing investigations into the nature and origin of species. Far from being a recluse, Darwin was at the heart of British scientific society,…
Matches: 3 hits
Darwin’s reading notebooks
Summary
In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to read in Notebook C (Notebooks, pp. 319–28). In 1839, these lists were copied and continued in separate notebooks. The first of these reading notebooks (DAR 119…
Matches: 26 hits
- … Natural History, and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology and Meteorology ] read …
- … [Lisyansky 1814]— nothing Lyell’s Elements of Geology [Lyell 1838] Gibbon’s Life of …
- … my subjects Elie de Beaumont’s 2 vol of memoirs on Geology of France [Dufrénoy and Élie de …
- … life of Johnsons [Boswell 1831] 4 vols 25 Phillips Geology [J. Phillips 1837–9] Lardners 2 …
- … need not try them again. 18 th . Maclarens Geology of Fife [Maclaren 1839] References at …
- … Natural History, and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology and Meteorology ] 4. Vol. …
- … the Horse [W. C. L. Martin 1845b] —— Hitchock’s Geology of Mass: [Hitchcock 1841] (skimmed) …
- … [DAR 119: 22a] 1849. Feb 8 th . Geology of Russia by Murchison. Veneuil &c …
- … of the Creator [H. Miller 1849] Dec. 10. Dana’s Geology. U.S. Expedition [J. D. Dana 1849] …
- … Sanatory Reform [Anon. 1850].— April 5 Manual of Geology Lyell [Lyell 1851] —— 30 …
- … it. & buy it.— 112 Jukes. “Students Manual of Geology” [Jukes 1857]— published a few …
- … Insects [T. W. Harris 1842] Jukes Student Manual of Geology [Jukes 1857] Azara’s …
- … the years 1797 and 1798, including observations on the geology and geography, the natural …
- … Library.] 119: 2a Buckland, William. 1836. Geology and mineralogy considered with …
- … *119: 3v.; 119: 5a Dana, James Dwight. 1849. Geology . Vol. 10 of United States …
- … New Zealand; with contributions to the geography, geology, botany, and natural history …
- … their scientific institutions, and a few notices of the geology and mineralogy of those …
- … Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology in London 2, pt 2: 457–82. …
- … Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology in London 2, pt 2: 483–534. …
- … or, original memoirs in medicine, surgery, physiology, geology, zoology, and comparative anatomy …
- … 13a Hitchcock, Edward. 1841. Final report on the geology of Massachusetts . 2 vols. …
- … 119: 20a ——. 1857. The student’s manual of geology. Edinburgh. [Darwin Library.] *128 …
- … 119: 3a Lyell, Charles. 1837. Principles of geology: being an inquiry how far the …
- … Library.] 119: 3a ——. 1838. Elements of geology . London. [Darwin Library.] 119: 2a …
- … 119: 16a ——. 1847. Principles of geology; or, the modern changes of the earth and its …
- … 22a Lyell, Charles. 1851. A manual of elementary geology; or, the ancient changes of …
Living and fossil cirripedia
Summary
Darwin published four volumes on barnacles, the crustacean sub-class Cirripedia, between 1851 and 1854, two on living species and two on fossil species. Written for a specialist audience, they are among the most challenging and least read of Darwin’s works…
John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 5 hits
- … as head of the business in 1843, had spent a year studying geology at Edinburgh University; as a …
- … he asked his friend Charles Lyell, whose Principles of geology (1830-3) had proved to be a …
- … contributed a section on using a microscope and a chapter on geology to A manual of scientific …
- … his authors and added Origin to his list: but although geology was his favourite hobby and he …
- … pseudonym ‘Verifier’ an essay entitled Scepticism in Geology (1877), an argument against Lyell’s …
Darwin’s earthquakes
Summary
Darwin experienced his first earthquake in 1834, but it was a few months later that he was really confronted with their power. Travelling north along the coast of Chile, Darwin and Robert FitzRoy, captain of HMS Beagle, were confronted with a series of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … the low coral islands of the Pacific Ocean, and even the geology of Europe. In his Red Notebook …
Journal of researches
Summary
Within two months of the Beagle’s arrival back in England in October 1836, Darwin, although busy with distributing his specimens among specialists for description, and more interested in working on his geological research, turned his mind to the task of…
Matches: 5 hits
- … with the new title Journal of Researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
- … of animals will occupy a large portion, sketches of the geology, the appearance of the country, and …
- … where he set out his views on human migration and reconciled geology with the Biblical account. ‘You …
- … food as an egg ’; William Henry Fitton considered the geology to be ‘excellent’ while relishing the …
- … title Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during …
Darwin & Glen Roy
Summary
Although Darwin was best known for his geological work in South America and other remote Beagle destinations, he made one noteworthy attempt to explain a puzzling feature of British geology. In 1838, two years after returning from the voyage, he travelled…
Matches: 1 hits
- … noteworthy attempt to explain a puzzling feature of British geology. In 1838, two years after …
Darwin in letters, 1821-1836: Childhood to the Beagle voyage
Summary
Darwin's first known letters were written when he was twelve. They continue through school-days at Shrewsbury, two years as a medical student at Edinburgh University, the undergraduate years at Cambridge, and the of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle.…
Matches: 3 hits
Charles Lyell
Summary
As an author, friend and correspondent, Charles Lyell played a crucial role in shaping Darwin's scientific life. Born to a wealthy gentry family in Scotland in 1797, Lyell had a classical and legal education but by the 1820s had become entranced by…