FINAL YEARS
I have no great
quickness of apprehension
or wit which is so
remarkable in some clever men..
  Etchings (L&R) based on photographs taken at Down House in 1880. |
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Darwin's globe, Down House.
The 'Sandwalk' behind Down House, where Darwin strolled three times a day, ruminating on his theories.
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..my
success as a man of science,
whatever this may have amounted to, has
been determined, as far as I can judge, by complex and
diversified mental qualities and conditions. Of these, the most
important have
been - the love of science - unbounded patience in long reflecting
over any subject - industry in observing and collecting facts -
and a
fair
share of invention as well as of common sense. With such moderate
abilities as I possess, it is truly surprising that I should have
influenced to a considerable extent the belief of
scientific men on
some important points. |
Head of Ateles marginatus.
From
'Descent of Man.' 1871
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| My own 1887 edition of The Descent
of Man, published by John Murray, London. |
1872 .
'The
expression of the emotions in man and animals.' 
Astride
'Tommy' at Down House. 
Late 1870s.
Late 1870s.
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I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon as the facts are shown to be opposed to it. |
Orchids.
Illustration from
'The movements and habits of climbing plants.', 1875. 
The fine 1881 portrait
in oils by
John Collier was commissioned by the Linnean Society to honour Darwin. Several copies were made. One now hangs in the
National Portrait Gallery, London, another at Down House.
The Collier portrait etched by Leopold Flameng.
1882
Darwin's last
book - 
'The formation of vegetable mould : through the action
of
worms, with observations on their habits.' 1881.
 Some
of my
critics have said, "Oh, he is a good observer,
but he has no power of
reasoning!" I do not think that this can be true, for the
'Origin of
Species' is one long
argument from the beginning to the end, and it has
convinced not a few able men.
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I believe this to be the last portrait of Darwin.
Darwin
died in April, 1882 and was buried in
Westminster
Abbey.
