Francis Darwin (1848–1925) was a British botanist and son of Charles Darwin, known for his contributions to plant physiology and his role in preserving his father’s scientific legacy. His research on plant movement and phototropism advanced botanical studies.
Born in Down, Kent, England, he studied natural sciences at Trinity College-Cambridge, earning his degree in 1870. Initially trained in medicine, he shifted to botany, assisting his father in experiments that led to groundbreaking discoveries in plant growth and response to light.
His major works include The Power of Movement in Plants (1880,) co-authored with Charles Darwin, exploring plant responses to stimuli. He later published Practical Physiology of Plants (1895,) a foundational plant biology textbook. His Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (1887) provided invaluable insights into his father’s work. Other notable publications include Rust, Smut, Mildew, and Mould (1923) and More Letters of Charles Darwin (1903.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Francis Darwin
But in science the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurs.
—Francis Darwin
Topics: Science
There seems to be one quality of mind which seems to be of special and extreme advantage in leading him to make discoveries. It was the power of never letting exceptions go unnoticed.
—Francis Darwin
Topics: Excellence
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