Charles Darwin
The author and subject is Charles Darwin, author of The Origin of Species and one of the most revolutionary figures in the history of science. This controversial naturalist started out on a career path toward becoming a minister like his father and wound up changing views on the age the earth, the existence of fossils, the possibility of dinosaurs and why animals have gone extinct. His memoirs are short and fast, covering a large expanse of time and space with a surprising efficiency.
John Stevens Henslow
Henslow is one of the most famous botanists in British history and the man for whom Audubon named the Henslow sparrow. He was a naturalist who became an early mentor of Charles Darwin, facilitating his march away from a career in the ministry and toward becoming a revolutionary scientist. In fact, Henslow is a major figure in the history of the study of evolution: it was he who was originally scheduled to set sail on the HMS Beagle as the ship’s science officer. When Henslow’s wife expressed opposition to the idea of this two-year voyage, Henslow managed to persuade the captain—against his initial wishes—to allow Darwin to take his place.
Charles Lyell
Lyell is another major figure in the history of the study of evolution. He gave Darwin a copy of his groundbreaking Principles of Geology to take with him aboard the HMS Beagle. Lyell had instructed the captain to make a search for erratic boulders on the voyage and with a copy of Lyell’s book in hand, Darwin’s ability to study these rock formations through the scientific lens afforded by Lyell became an essential element of observation which he then applies to the rest of his studies during the voyage.
Capt. Robert FitzRoy
The captain of the HMS Beagle whom Darwin describes as dutiful, devoted, determined and given to great swings in temperament and mood. Darwin almost did not make it aboard the ship for the voyage that would forever change history, even after Henslow worked hard to campaign for him as a replacement. FitzRoy subscribed a strange superstitious belief that he could judge a man’s character by the shape of his nose and Darwin’s, it appears, fell short. Nonetheless, FitzRoy gave in and everything changed.
Thomas Carlyle
In his own right, Carlyle is nearly as towering figure in his own disciplines—philosophy, mathematics and history—in 19th century England as Darwin. He was also a rabid racist who wrote several polemics supporting the existence of slavery and calling for its reinstitution following abolition of the slave trade. Darwin’s opinion is ironic at best and absolutely dismissive at worst: “As far as I could judge, I never met a man with a mind so ill adapted for scientific research.”
