Emma Darwin

Emma Darwin was born on May 2, 1808. Her birth name was Emma Wedgwood. She later became known as Emma Darwin after she got married.

She married a very famous scientist named Charles Darwin on January 29, 1839. Charles Darwin was her first cousin. He was an English naturalist who studied plants, animals, and how they change over time.

Emma and Charles Darwin had ten children together. Sadly, three of their children did not live to grow up. But seven of them did, and they all became adults. Emma Darwin passed away on October 2, 1896.

Early life

Emma Wedgwood was born at the family estate of Maer Hall in Maer, Staffordshire, the youngest of seven children of Josiah Wedgwood II and his wife Elizabeth "Bessie" (née Allen). Her family was not part of the aristocracy and belonged to the Unitarian church. Charles Darwin was her first cousin, and the two families had known each other since childhood.

Emma was close to her sister Fanny, and together they were called the "Doveleys" by their family. She enjoyed playing the piano and was very good at it. She also loved outdoor activities, especially archery. Emma helped her sister teach village children to read and write. When she was young, she traveled to Paris and later went on a trip across Europe with her father and sisters. She supported Charles Darwin when he wanted to go on a long voyage, even though it was difficult for his family at the time.

Marriage

Emma Wedgwood agreed to marry Charles on November 11, 1838, when she was 30 years old. They got married on January 29, 1839, at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Maer, with their cousin Reverend John Allen Wedgwood officiating.

After a short stay in London, they moved to Down House in the village of Down, about 16 miles from St Paul's Cathedral and two hours from London Bridge by coach and train. The village was later renamed Downe.

Charles and Emma had ten children together, and they raised them in a kind and gentle way. Three of their children, George, Francis, and Horace, later became members of the Royal Society.

Emma is remembered for her strength and care, especially during her husband's long illness and when nursing her children through sickness. She also helped people in her community by giving out food and simple medicine. Charles trusted Emma with publishing his work if something happened to him, and he later published On the Origin of Species in 1859. Emma often played the piano for Charles.

Religious views

Emma believed in Unitarianism, which values personal feelings over strict religious rules. She and Charles Darwin often talked about their different beliefs. Emma worried that their different ideas might come between them, but she appreciated Charles being open and honest with her.

After they married, they continued to discuss Christianity and other religious ideas. Emma held onto her belief in an afterlife and hoped they would stay close in their thoughts and beliefs, even as Charles began to question traditional religious views.

Later life and the Darwin grounds

Emma Darwin’s husband, Charles, passed away in 1882 when he was 73 years old. After his death, Emma spent her summers at Down House and bought a large home called The Grove in Cambridge for the winters. Emma herself passed away in 1896. Her son Francis built a house named Wychfield on the grounds of The Grove, where he lived during most winters and spent summers in Gloucestershire. Another son, Horace, also built a house there called The Orchard.

Today, The Grove serves as the main building of Fitzwilliam College, offering common rooms for graduates, Fellows, and senior members. In 2009, there was a plan to demolish a part of the college called Grove Lodge, but after concerns from locals and academics, the college decided to keep and refurbish it instead. The work was finished in 2011, creating five new studies for Fellows.

Children

Emma Darwin and Charles Darwin had ten children together. Their names were William, Anne, Mary, Henrietta, George, Elizabeth, Francis, Leonard, Horace, and Charles. Sadly, some of their children did not live very long. After Charles Darwin passed away, Emma helped raise her grandson Bernard, who was born after his mother sadly passed away just a few days later.

Cultural references

In 2001, a book about Emma was written by Edna Healey. Some people think the book gives Emma too much credit for her husband's ideas, but others believe she did not help much with his science work.

In 2008, a book called Mrs Charles Darwin's Recipe Book was published. The money from this book went to the Darwin Correspondence Project at Cambridge University.

In 2009, a movie named Creation showed the relationship between Charles and Emma. Emma was acted by Jennifer Connelly.

A building at Shrewsbury School is named after her.

Darwins buried at Downe

Eight members of the Darwin family are buried at St Mary's Church, Downe. Some of these family members include Bernard Darwin and his wife Elinor Monsell, Charles Waring Darwin, Elizabeth Darwin, known as "Aunt Bessy," Emma Darwin (the wife of Charles Darwin), Erasmus Alvey Darwin, Mary Eleanor Darwin, and Henrietta Etty Darwin, who later became Litchfield and was called "Aunt Etty." Emma Darwin's sister Elizabeth Wedgwood and Aunt Sarah Wedgwood are also buried together at the same church.