Horace Darwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horace Darwin
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Photograph of Horace Darwin
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| Born | 13 May 1851 Downe, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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| Died | 22 September 1928 (aged 77) |
| Spouse(s) | Emma Cecilia "Ida" Farrer |
| Children | Erasmus Darwin IV Ruth Frances Darwin Nora Barlow |
| Parent(s) | Charles Darwin and Emma Darwin |
Sir Horace Darwin (born May 13, 1851 – died September 22, 1928) was a clever English engineer. He was famous for designing and making very accurate scientific tools. These tools helped scientists do important experiments and discoveries. Horace Darwin was also the son of the famous naturalist, Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution.
Horace Darwin's Early Life and Family
Horace Darwin was born in 1851 at Down House, his family home. He was the fifth son and ninth child of Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma Darwin. He was the youngest of their seven children who lived to be adults.
He went to a private school in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Later, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He finished his studies there in 1874.
In January 1880, Horace Darwin married Emma Cecilia "Ida" Farrer. She was the daughter of a well-known person named Thomas Farrer, 1st Baron Farrer. Horace and Ida had three children:
- Erasmus Darwin IV (1881–1915) sadly died during the First World War. He was killed in a battle called the Second Battle of Ypres.
- Ruth Frances Darwin (1883–1972) grew up to be a strong supporter of eugenics. She married Dr. William Rees-Thomas.
- Emma Nora Darwin (1885–1989) was interested in plant genetics. She helped edit her grandfather Charles Darwin's autobiography in 1959. She married Sir Alan Barlow.
Horace Darwin is buried in the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground in Cambridge. His wife is buried there too. His brother, Sir Francis Darwin, is also buried in the same graveyard.
His family home, called "the Orchard," is now part of Murray Edwards College in Cambridge.
Horace Darwin's Engineering Career
In 1881, Horace Darwin started a company called the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company. He began it with a partner, Albert George Dew-Smith. Horace took full charge of the company in 1891 when their partnership ended.
He was also involved in local government. He served as the Mayor of Cambridge from 1896 to 1897. In 1903, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a special honor for top scientists and engineers. He was also knighted in 1918, which means he received the title "Sir."
