Charles Darwin the Thinker
Darwin Reflected Daily as he Paced the Sand Walk at Down House
Jul 7, 2009
Charles Darwin is credited by many with solving how plants and animals have evolved over millions of years, by a process of natural selection, resulting in the publication of the Origin of the Species in 1859.
Charles Darwin's Daily Routine
Charles Darwin was a creature of habit and not a well man. His ill health has never been completely diagnosed, but he may have suffered from Chagas’ disease – a chronic intestinal disorder caused by a protozoan parasite.
He was frequently incapacitated and this, in conjunction with his daily routine, gave him time to think. Unlike present day scientists, his time was not dominated by grant writing and keeping up a stream of peer-reviewed publications. He had a substantial inheritance. Financial considerations were not an issue, even with a large family, and Darwin was free to think.
Not only was he financially solvent but within the constraints of science and scientific equipment of the time he was free to experiment in whichever direction his thoughts led him.
Darwin’s daily routine is striking in the amount of time allowed for rest and reflection:
- 7:45 – Breakfast
- 8:00 – Work in study
- 9:30 – Listen to family letters or novels in drawing room
- 10:30 – Work in study
- 12:00 – Walk along the Sand Walk
- 13:00 – Lunch followed by reading newspapers/novels or writing letters
- 15:00 – Rest in bedroom
- 16:30 – Work in study
- 17:30 – Rest in bedroom
- 19:30 – Tea
- 20:00 – Two games of backgammon with his wife Emma
- 21:00 – Retire to bed
Darwin's Solitary Walks Along the Sand Walk
Darwin had enjoyed long solitary walks since childhood and walking along the Sand Walk at Down House was a daily observance. He found this time to think an immense benefit to both his work and piece of mind.
Darwin is renowned for his powers of observation, an important characteristic of all successful scientists. He concentrated on things that interested him and thought deeply about them. Wrestling his way through the complex thoughts and consequences of his observations and ideas on evolution did not come easily. In particular, he worried about the effects of his ideas on the Church and his devout wife Emma.
Darwin’s daily walks along the sand walk seemed to provide a natural tranquiliser and Darwin was drawn to its calming effect. The sand walk is found on a narrow strip of land that runs along the boundary of Down House, overlooking a charming little valley. Darwin’s children regularly played there and he liked to be near them as he formulated his thoughts. He would often walk it several times, recording the number by kicking a flint from a pile as he passed by.
Sometimes, Darwin would pause to take stock or collect a leaf or fallen birds egg that had caught his eye.
Darwin’s Legacy of Thought
Darwin was an inveterate collector and on his epic voyage circumnavigating the globe, he regularly sent home cases of specimens to fellow naturalists. Yet he was a home bird at heart. Corresponding with others he formulated his thoughts on evolution and for the latter part of his life rarely left home.
Recent advances in molecular biology have allowed scientists to prove many of Darwin’s hypotheses on the relationships between species. Despite the differences in his working environment to today’s scientists, Darwin was able to draw on his observations made on his travels. His daily life at Down House (Kent, UK) surrounded by his large and involved family, allowed him time to think and experiment.
Sources:
- Desmond A, Moore J and Janet Browne. Charles Darwin. The Very Interesting People series. 2007. Oxford University Press (UK).
- Down House Audio tour – March 2009.
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