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210
Hereditary Genius
able—the more so because it so happens that the tastes appear (I speak from
private sources of knowledge) to have been more personal than traditional.
There is a strong element of individuality in the different members of the race
which is adverse to traditional influence. Thus—
[S.] Sir Francis Darwin, a physician; was singularly fond of animals. His place in
Derbyshire was full of animal oddities—half-wild pigs ran about the woods,
and the like.
[P.] One of his sons is a well-known writer—though under a nom de plume—on
natural history subjects, and on sporting matters.
I could add the names of others of the family who, in a lesser but yet decided
degree, have shown a taste for subjects of natural history.
Davy, Sir Humphry; chemist and philosopher. He was not precocious as a child, but
distinguished himself as a youth. He published his first essays aet. 21. Was
Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution aet. 23.
B. Dr. John Davy, author of many memoirs on physiology. Inspector-General of
Army Hospitals.
De Candolle, Augustin Pyrame; eminent Swiss botanist His infancy resembled that
of Cuvier; both had mothers who were intelligent and affectionate; both were
of delicate health, and also of a most happy disposition. He had
hydrocephalus, and nearly died of it aet. 7. Being unable to share the pursuits
of other boys, he became studious, very fond of verse-making and of literature,
but was not interested in science. He collected plants merely as subjects to
draw from, but before long he became deeply interested in them. When aet. 15,
his weakness of health ceased. His is almost a solitary instance of complete
recovery from hydrocephalus. He then became very vigorous. He wrote a
memoir aet. 20, that gained him some reputation. His essay, aet. 26, on being
admitted Doctor of Medicine, was a very masterly one. Died aet. 63.
F. Premier Syndic of Geneva on two occasions.
S. Alphonse; also a Swiss botanist, Professor and Director of the Botanical Garden
in Geneva.
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