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Jul. 16th, 2006 06:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinityvixenHaving just gotten back from the Darwin exhibit at AMNH, I have to say the most interesting story was that of the captain of the HMSBeagle, Robert Fitzroy. He got command originally after the captain previous became depressed and shot himself. His letters in talking about Darwin show him to be a bit mercurial, but also hilarious--when Darwin's presence prompted the ship's surgeon to leave (a bit of professional jealousy that any specimens Darwin classified would be attributed to him, as there would be no need for the doctor to play naturalist as well), Fitsroy condemned the man using appropriately 19th century British terms, then called himself an ass for not realizing it sooner.
Fitzroy also financed all that the crown would not do to be absolutely sure the various scientific experiments, measurements and recordings would be able to be carried off without a hitch. This is not to say he was a saint--he supported slavery and even purchased men and women to take back to England (then returned them as part of a failed attempt to start a mission in South America). But he's an interesting figure, and I'd love to read more about him (I may just do, in fact).
On an unrelated note, someone in this building is playing The Cure's Bloodflowers album, a fact remarkable because it isn't in Spanish (nor is it blasting--it's a comfortable level even for coming in out of the window). Also, cats make typing impossible, the little darlings.
Fitzroy also financed all that the crown would not do to be absolutely sure the various scientific experiments, measurements and recordings would be able to be carried off without a hitch. This is not to say he was a saint--he supported slavery and even purchased men and women to take back to England (then returned them as part of a failed attempt to start a mission in South America). But he's an interesting figure, and I'd love to read more about him (I may just do, in fact).
On an unrelated note, someone in this building is playing The Cure's Bloodflowers album, a fact remarkable because it isn't in Spanish (nor is it blasting--it's a comfortable level even for coming in out of the window). Also, cats make typing impossible, the little darlings.
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Date: 2006-07-16 11:02 pm (UTC)Fitzroy sounds like he would make for a fascinating novel or movie.
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Date: 2006-07-16 11:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-16 11:23 pm (UTC)Originally Robert FitzRoy dismissed Darwin as a potential companion for the voyage, because he believed in physiognomy, the ability to tell a man's mental characteristics from his features. He thought Darwin's bulbous nose made him weak-willed and unsuited to a voyage. It was only after Darwin's mentor, Adam Sedgwick, a noted naturalist and geologist wrote another letter to him that he reconsidered. (I think that's right, I can't remember which person had to write a letter to make him reconsider)
Once they were on the voyage together, FitzRoy slowly discovered that while Darwin was a gentleman, he was also a Whig, while FitzRoy was a Tory, so the political ideology battle was quite intense. Small wonder Darwin went ashore for months at a time, travelling deep into South America and even Australia.
Those slaves were four children from Tierra del Fuego who were an attempt at civilising the barbarians.
One died on the voayge home, but three survived. Darwin seems to have spent a great deal of time with them compared to FitzRoy, but possibly because he could not stand the Captain's company.
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Date: 2006-07-16 11:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 03:28 am (UTC)Hmm. That could be a problem. Perhaps that's what they mean by "kill your darlings"?
Ahem.
I don't sanction killing cute little kittens, no sir.
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Date: 2006-07-17 04:15 am (UTC)