Charles Darwin to Emma Darwin, 23rd April 1851
"My dear dearest Emma
I pray God Fanny's note may have prepared you. She went to her final sleep most tranquilly, most sweetly at 12 o'clock today. Our poor dear dear child has had a very short life but I trust happy, & God only knows what miseries might have been in store for her. She expired without a sigh. How desolate it makes one to think of her frank cordial manners. I am so thankful for the daguerreotype. I cannot remember ever seeing the dear child naughty. God bless her. We must be more & more to each other my dear wife— Do what you can to bear up & think how invariably kind & tender you have been to her.— I am in bed not very well with my stomach. When I shall return I cannot yet say. My own poor dear dear wife.
C. Darwin"
Darwin was writing from Dr James Gully's hydropathic establishment in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, where he had taken his desperately ill daughter in the vain hope that she might make a recovery. The heavily pregnant Emma had had to remain at home; Horace Darwin was born three weeks later.
THE FAMILY OF CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN : we now have images of the graves of all 21 members of CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN's immediate family: Charles & Emma themselves, 10 children: with 8 wives and 1 husband; TOTAL OF 19 in England & 1 in Wales and 1 in France.
Cambridge, England = 7:
E.W.D., was E.W.C. (Girton)
F.D., Sir (Ascension)
F.H.D., previously Maitland, was F.H.F., Lady (Ascension)
G.H.D., Sir (Trumpington Extension)
‘I’ (E.C.) D., was E.C. F., Lady (Ascension)
H.D., Sir (Ascension)
M.H.D., was M.H.DuP.,Lady (Trumpington Extension, cremated)
Cannes, France = 1 :
R.B.L.
Corris, Wales = 1
A.R.D. (was A.R.R.)
Downe, England = 5
C.W.D.
E.D.
E.D. (was E.W.)
H.E.L. (was H.E.D.)
M.E.D.
Forest Row, England = 2
L.D.
(C.) M. D. (was C.M.M.)
Great Malvern, England = 1
A.E.D.
London, England = 2
E.F.D., was E.F.F. (Putney Vale)
C.D. (Westminster Abbey)
North Stoneham, England = 2
W.E.D.
S.P.A.D. (was S.P.A.S.)
An infant daughter of Charles and Emma Darwin is buried in Great Malvern Priory churchyard; she died in Montreal House, Great Malvern. Her death of tuberculosis, aged ten, was so painful to Darwin that it further weakened his faith, motivating the ultimate publication of his revolutionary book: "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.
The sad loss of Charles and Emma Darwin's beloved daughter was only 'softened' by the birth of their son Horace Darwin, who was born only three weeks after Anne's death on 13th May, 1851. The subsequent loss of Amy Richenda Darwin, nee Ruck, the first wife of Francis Darwin and mother of Bernard Darwin, was equally traumatic to the family in 1876.
"I have indeed been most happy in my family, & I must say to you my children that not one of you has ever given me one minute's anxiety, except on the score of health. There are, I suspect, very few fathers of five sons who could say this with entire truth. When you were very young it was my delight to play with you all, & I think with a sigh that such days can never return. From your earliest days to now that you are grown up, you have all, sons & daughters, ever been most pleasant, sympathetic & affectionate to us & to one another. When all or most of you are at home (as, thank Heavens, happens pretty frequently) no party can be, according to my taste, more agreeable, & I wish for no other society. We have suffered only one very severe grief in the death of Annie at Malvern on April 24th, 1851, when she was just over ten years old. She was a most sweet & affectionate child, & I feel sure would have grown into a delightful woman. But I need say nothing here of her character, as I wrote a short sketch of it shortly after her death. Tears still sometimes come into my eyes, when I think of her sweet ways." (CD)
"My dear dearest Emma
I pray God Fanny's note may have prepared you. She went to her final sleep most tranquilly, most sweetly at 12 o'clock today. Our poor dear dear child has had a very short life but I trust happy, & God only knows what miseries might have been in store for her. She expired without a sigh. How desolate it makes one to think of her frank cordial manners. I am so thankful for the daguerreotype. I cannot remember ever seeing the dear child naughty. God bless her. We must be more & more to each other my dear wife— Do what you can to bear up & think how invariably kind & tender you have been to her.— I am in bed not very well with my stomach. When I shall return I cannot yet say. My own poor dear dear wife.
C. Darwin"
Darwin was writing from Dr James Gully's hydropathic establishment in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, where he had taken his desperately ill daughter in the vain hope that she might make a recovery. The heavily pregnant Emma had had to remain at home; Horace Darwin was born three weeks later.
THE FAMILY OF CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN : we now have images of the graves of all 21 members of CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN's immediate family: Charles & Emma themselves, 10 children: with 8 wives and 1 husband; TOTAL OF 19 in England & 1 in Wales and 1 in France.
Cambridge, England = 7:
E.W.D., was E.W.C. (Girton)
F.D., Sir (Ascension)
F.H.D., previously Maitland, was F.H.F., Lady (Ascension)
G.H.D., Sir (Trumpington Extension)
‘I’ (E.C.) D., was E.C. F., Lady (Ascension)
H.D., Sir (Ascension)
M.H.D., was M.H.DuP.,Lady (Trumpington Extension, cremated)
Cannes, France = 1 :
R.B.L.
Corris, Wales = 1
A.R.D. (was A.R.R.)
Downe, England = 5
C.W.D.
E.D.
E.D. (was E.W.)
H.E.L. (was H.E.D.)
M.E.D.
Forest Row, England = 2
L.D.
(C.) M. D. (was C.M.M.)
Great Malvern, England = 1
A.E.D.
London, England = 2
E.F.D., was E.F.F. (Putney Vale)
C.D. (Westminster Abbey)
North Stoneham, England = 2
W.E.D.
S.P.A.D. (was S.P.A.S.)
An infant daughter of Charles and Emma Darwin is buried in Great Malvern Priory churchyard; she died in Montreal House, Great Malvern. Her death of tuberculosis, aged ten, was so painful to Darwin that it further weakened his faith, motivating the ultimate publication of his revolutionary book: "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.
The sad loss of Charles and Emma Darwin's beloved daughter was only 'softened' by the birth of their son Horace Darwin, who was born only three weeks after Anne's death on 13th May, 1851. The subsequent loss of Amy Richenda Darwin, nee Ruck, the first wife of Francis Darwin and mother of Bernard Darwin, was equally traumatic to the family in 1876.
"I have indeed been most happy in my family, & I must say to you my children that not one of you has ever given me one minute's anxiety, except on the score of health. There are, I suspect, very few fathers of five sons who could say this with entire truth. When you were very young it was my delight to play with you all, & I think with a sigh that such days can never return. From your earliest days to now that you are grown up, you have all, sons & daughters, ever been most pleasant, sympathetic & affectionate to us & to one another. When all or most of you are at home (as, thank Heavens, happens pretty frequently) no party can be, according to my taste, more agreeable, & I wish for no other society. We have suffered only one very severe grief in the death of Annie at Malvern on April 24th, 1851, when she was just over ten years old. She was a most sweet & affectionate child, & I feel sure would have grown into a delightful woman. But I need say nothing here of her character, as I wrote a short sketch of it shortly after her death. Tears still sometimes come into my eyes, when I think of her sweet ways." (CD)
Charles Darwin to Emma Darwin, 23rd April 1851
"My dear dearest Emma
I pray God Fanny's note may have prepared you. She went to her final sleep most tranquilly, most sweetly at 12 o'clock today. Our poor dear dear child has had a very short life but I trust happy, & God only knows what miseries might have been in store for her. She expired without a sigh. How desolate it makes one to think of her frank cordial manners. I am so thankful for the daguerreotype. I cannot remember ever seeing the dear child naughty. God bless her. We must be more & more to each other my dear wife— Do what you can to bear up & think how invariably kind & tender you have been to her.— I am in bed not very well with my stomach. When I shall return I cannot yet say. My own poor dear dear wife.
C. Darwin"
Darwin was writing from Dr James Gully's hydropathic establishment in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, where he had taken his desperately ill daughter in the vain hope that she might make a recovery. The heavily pregnant Emma had had to remain at home; Horace Darwin was born three weeks later.
THE FAMILY OF CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN : we now have images of the graves of all 21 members of CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN's immediate family: Charles & Emma themselves, 10 children: with 8 wives and 1 husband; TOTAL OF 19 in England & 1 in Wales and 1 in France.
Cambridge, England = 7:
E.W.D., was E.W.C. (Girton)
F.D., Sir (Ascension)
F.H.D., previously Maitland, was F.H.F., Lady (Ascension)
G.H.D., Sir (Trumpington Extension)
‘I’ (E.C.) D., was E.C. F., Lady (Ascension)
H.D., Sir (Ascension)
M.H.D., was M.H.DuP.,Lady (Trumpington Extension, cremated)
Cannes, France = 1 :
R.B.L.
Corris, Wales = 1
A.R.D. (was A.R.R.)
Downe, England = 5
C.W.D.
E.D.
E.D. (was E.W.)
H.E.L. (was H.E.D.)
M.E.D.
Forest Row, England = 2
L.D.
(C.) M. D. (was C.M.M.)
Great Malvern, England = 1
A.E.D.
London, England = 2
E.F.D., was E.F.F. (Putney Vale)
C.D. (Westminster Abbey)
North Stoneham, England = 2
W.E.D.
S.P.A.D. (was S.P.A.S.)
An infant daughter of Charles and Emma Darwin is buried in Great Malvern Priory churchyard; she died in Montreal House, Great Malvern. Her death of tuberculosis, aged ten, was so painful to Darwin that it further weakened his faith, motivating the ultimate publication of his revolutionary book: "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.
The sad loss of Charles and Emma Darwin's beloved daughter was only 'softened' by the birth of their son Horace Darwin, who was born only three weeks after Anne's death on 13th May, 1851. The subsequent loss of Amy Richenda Darwin, nee Ruck, the first wife of Francis Darwin and mother of Bernard Darwin, was equally traumatic to the family in 1876.
"I have indeed been most happy in my family, & I must say to you my children that not one of you has ever given me one minute's anxiety, except on the score of health. There are, I suspect, very few fathers of five sons who could say this with entire truth. When you were very young it was my delight to play with you all, & I think with a sigh that such days can never return. From your earliest days to now that you are grown up, you have all, sons & daughters, ever been most pleasant, sympathetic & affectionate to us & to one another. When all or most of you are at home (as, thank Heavens, happens pretty frequently) no party can be, according to my taste, more agreeable, & I wish for no other society. We have suffered only one very severe grief in the death of Annie at Malvern on April 24th, 1851, when she was just over ten years old. She was a most sweet & affectionate child, & I feel sure would have grown into a delightful woman. But I need say nothing here of her character, as I wrote a short sketch of it shortly after her death. Tears still sometimes come into my eyes, when I think of her sweet ways." (CD)
"My dear dearest Emma
I pray God Fanny's note may have prepared you. She went to her final sleep most tranquilly, most sweetly at 12 o'clock today. Our poor dear dear child has had a very short life but I trust happy, & God only knows what miseries might have been in store for her. She expired without a sigh. How desolate it makes one to think of her frank cordial manners. I am so thankful for the daguerreotype. I cannot remember ever seeing the dear child naughty. God bless her. We must be more & more to each other my dear wife— Do what you can to bear up & think how invariably kind & tender you have been to her.— I am in bed not very well with my stomach. When I shall return I cannot yet say. My own poor dear dear wife.
C. Darwin"
Darwin was writing from Dr James Gully's hydropathic establishment in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, where he had taken his desperately ill daughter in the vain hope that she might make a recovery. The heavily pregnant Emma had had to remain at home; Horace Darwin was born three weeks later.
THE FAMILY OF CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN : we now have images of the graves of all 21 members of CHARLES & EMMA DARWIN's immediate family: Charles & Emma themselves, 10 children: with 8 wives and 1 husband; TOTAL OF 19 in England & 1 in Wales and 1 in France.
Cambridge, England = 7:
E.W.D., was E.W.C. (Girton)
F.D., Sir (Ascension)
F.H.D., previously Maitland, was F.H.F., Lady (Ascension)
G.H.D., Sir (Trumpington Extension)
‘I’ (E.C.) D., was E.C. F., Lady (Ascension)
H.D., Sir (Ascension)
M.H.D., was M.H.DuP.,Lady (Trumpington Extension, cremated)
Cannes, France = 1 :
R.B.L.
Corris, Wales = 1
A.R.D. (was A.R.R.)
Downe, England = 5
C.W.D.
E.D.
E.D. (was E.W.)
H.E.L. (was H.E.D.)
M.E.D.
Forest Row, England = 2
L.D.
(C.) M. D. (was C.M.M.)
Great Malvern, England = 1
A.E.D.
London, England = 2
E.F.D., was E.F.F. (Putney Vale)
C.D. (Westminster Abbey)
North Stoneham, England = 2
W.E.D.
S.P.A.D. (was S.P.A.S.)
An infant daughter of Charles and Emma Darwin is buried in Great Malvern Priory churchyard; she died in Montreal House, Great Malvern. Her death of tuberculosis, aged ten, was so painful to Darwin that it further weakened his faith, motivating the ultimate publication of his revolutionary book: "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.
The sad loss of Charles and Emma Darwin's beloved daughter was only 'softened' by the birth of their son Horace Darwin, who was born only three weeks after Anne's death on 13th May, 1851. The subsequent loss of Amy Richenda Darwin, nee Ruck, the first wife of Francis Darwin and mother of Bernard Darwin, was equally traumatic to the family in 1876.
"I have indeed been most happy in my family, & I must say to you my children that not one of you has ever given me one minute's anxiety, except on the score of health. There are, I suspect, very few fathers of five sons who could say this with entire truth. When you were very young it was my delight to play with you all, & I think with a sigh that such days can never return. From your earliest days to now that you are grown up, you have all, sons & daughters, ever been most pleasant, sympathetic & affectionate to us & to one another. When all or most of you are at home (as, thank Heavens, happens pretty frequently) no party can be, according to my taste, more agreeable, & I wish for no other society. We have suffered only one very severe grief in the death of Annie at Malvern on April 24th, 1851, when she was just over ten years old. She was a most sweet & affectionate child, & I feel sure would have grown into a delightful woman. But I need say nothing here of her character, as I wrote a short sketch of it shortly after her death. Tears still sometimes come into my eyes, when I think of her sweet ways." (CD)
Bio by: Daniel Howard
Family Members
Siblings
-
![]()
William Erasmus "Uncle William" Darwin
1839–1914
-
![]()
Mary Eleanor Darwin
1842–1842
-
![]()
Henrietta Emma "Etty" Darwin Litchfield
1843–1927
-
![]()
Sir George Howard "Uncle George" Darwin
1845–1912
-
![]()
Elizabeth "Aunt Bessy" Darwin
1847–1926
-
![]()
Sir Francis Darwin
1848–1925
-
![]()
Maj Leonard "Uncle Lenny" Darwin
1850–1943
-
![]()
Sir Horace "Uncle Horace" Darwin
1851–1928
-
![]()
Charles Waring Darwin
1856–1858
