John Stevens Henslow

John Stevens Henslow
John Stevens Henslow
(1796–1861)

I fully believe a better man never walked this earth.

Charles Darwin to J.D. Hooker
18th May, 1861

If anyone could lay claim to being one of the greatest Friends of Charles Darwin, it was the Reverend Professor John Stevens Henslow. Not only did this good-natured academic and clergyman teach Darwin much of his scientific technique, but he also arranged a place for his favourite pupil aboard HMS Beagle. The rest, as they say, is history.

Teacher

In his autobiography, written towards the end of his life, Darwin described his friendship with Henslow as the most important circumstance in his whole career. Their friendship began in 1828 at Cambridge University, where Henslow was the popular Regius Professor of Botany. Darwin, an undergraduate at the university, had heard of Henslow's brilliance from his brother, Erasmus, who revered the professor as a man who knew every branch of science. Although he was supposed to be studying for an arts degree in Theology, Euclid, and the Classics, Darwin soon secured an invitation to attend one of Henslow's scientific soirées. In no time at all, he was a regular visitor at Henslow's house, rubbing shoulders with fellow undergraduates and more senior members of the university's scientific community, including the Reverend Professors Adam Sedgwick and William Whewell.

Henslow's popularity as a teacher was due largely to his progressive teaching techniques, which relied heavily on field- and garden-work, and on encouraging his students to make observations of their own, rather than simply having them spoon-fed. Darwin attended Henslow's field trips assiduously, and was soon taking long, almost daily walks with his tutor. Indeed, Darwin was to become such a regular companion of the professor that some of the university's other dons began to refer to him as the man who walks with Henslow.

After Darwin had completed his final examination in 1831, Henslow persuaded him to begin studying geology, and made arrangements for him to accompany Adam Sedgwick on a geological trip to North Wales. Little did any of them realise just how soon Darwin would be putting his new geological training to the test.

Travel Agent

While Darwin was traipsing around Wales, Henslow received a letter telling him that Captain Robert FitzRoy was once again looking for a gentleman companion on a planned two-year trip to survey South America aboard HMS Beagle. Henslow had previously been offered the post, but had been dissuaded from accepting by his wife. The place had then been offered to Henslow's brother-in-law, Leonard Jenyns, who had initially accepted the offer, but had changed his mind at very short notice.

Perceiving a perfect opportunity for his protégé, Henslow immediately dashed off a letter to FitzRoy, saying he knew the ideal man for the job. Almost as an afterthought, he also wrote to Darwin to ask him if he wanted it.

Darwin eventually managed to persuade his father that he should be allowed to go on the voyage, and, a few short months later, he set sail for South America—the first leg of what turned out to be a nearly five-year circumnavigation of the world.

Publicist

During the Beagle voyage, Darwin and Henslow corresponded as often as the primitive postal system would allow. Henslow became the main recipient of Darwin's massive collection of scientific samples, despatched home at irregular intervals during the voyage. He saw to it that these samples were passed on to the appropriate experts for analysis, and took it upon himself to publish extracts of Darwin's letters in respectable scientific journals.

By the time Darwin returned home in 1836, his scientific credentials and future scientific career were assured—largely thanks to Henslow.

Rector

The year following Darwin's return to England, Henslow secured the rectorship of the neglected parish of Hitcham in Suffolk, where we was to remain for the rest of his life.

Surprisingly perhaps, the great university lecturer made only a mediocre preacher. His first congregation in Hitcham Church was not big enough to fill a single pew. He decided to concentrate, therefore, on improving the well-being of his parisioners through scientific, rather than spiritual, enlightenment. He encouraged local farmers to take part in experiments into crop diseases and fertilisers (derived from coprolites!). Indeed, two farmers he met while on holiday in Felixtowe were so impressed with his advice that they set up their own fertiliser company: Fisons. He founded a village school (giving some of the lessons himself) and the Ipswich Museum, administered local charities, introduced garden allotments for parisioners, and organised educational excursions to various venues, including the 1851 Great Exhibition.

National Figure

Henslow's activities did not, however, become entirely parochial: he still found time to carry out archaeological excavations, tutor Queen Victoria's children, and keep in touch with the wider scientific community, including his celebrated former pupil, Mr Charles Darwin, Fellow of the Royal Society.

Indeed, in 1860, the year before his death, Henslow chaired the legendary Oxford meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, in which Thomas Henry Huxley and Henslow's son-in-law, Joseph Dalton Hooker, crossed swords with Bishop 'Soapy Sam' Wilberforce over the subject of Darwin's On the Origin of Species.

Death

The following winter, Henslow became seriously ill with a heart condition. His health continued to grow worse. Realising that the end was near, with Hooker standing vigil, he bade farewell to numerous visitors who had been called to his bedside. Conspicuous by his absence was Charles Darwin: a virtual invalid himself, Darwin did not feel well enough to make the journey to Hitcham, wretched though the decision made him feel. Had the tables been turned, one suspects that Darwin's old tutor would surely have made the effort.

Henslow died after a bronchial attack on 18th May, 1861. Shortly afterwards, his brother-in-law, Leonard Jenyns, edited a tribute entitled Memoir of the Rev. John Stevens Henslow, to which Darwin contributed a chapter.

Further Reading

Darwin's Mentor

Darwin's Mentor: John Stevens Henslow 1796–1861
by SM Walters & EA Stow.

Richard Carter, FCD

Writer and photographer Richard Carter, FCD is the founder of the Friends of Charles Darwin. He lives in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.WebsiteNewsletterMastodonetc…

15 comments

  1. This was a very full brief account and I thank you for it.  John Stevens Henslow was my great great grandfather and I have the Memoir book and some other memorabilia but I thought that picture on the front of the book, Darwin's Mentor was my great grandfather, John Stevens son.

    But when you are as far away as Vancouver, B.C. Canada, you can get mixed up about such things.  Thank you.  Anne Henslow

    1. Anne, John Stevens Henslow was my great great grandfather too. When Anne Stow was researching for her book she corresponded with and met my father. Our family is lacking memorabilia of JS Henslow, but does have a few items that belonged to my father's genetic father, Thomas Geoffrey Wall Henslow. Quite by chance, I lived for 27 years in St Albans, a short distance from St. Peter's church, where JS Henslow's father, John Prentice Henslow and several of his sons are buried. I visited JSH's grave in Hitcham churchyard, Suffolk, a few years ago too. A distant relative contacted me and sent me a Henslow-Prentice family tree. You must be on it too - I must look again. Michael

    2. he was my great, great, grandfather too! i have the family tree upstairs so i shall look you both up.

  2. Anne,

    It's wonderful to hear from a Henslow. I've always had a major soft-spot for your great great grandfather. He was a thoroughly good egg, and, as Darwin's tutor and travel agent (re. the Beagle voyage), his contribution to science was massive - albeit often overlooked.

    It's funny you should say that about the picture on the front cover of the book: I always thought it looked nothing like J.S.H., but the picture credit clearly states that it is.

  3. I am doing a project on Charles Darwin for my High School Bio class and it was wonderful to find some great information on the man that was such a huge influence in Darwin's life and his research! Thank you very much!  

  4. I am taking an organic evolution course in college right now and am writing a paper about how Darwin was influenced by Henslow. This site has been very helpful. Thank you.

  5. Darwin had a pupil that came right after his death. This pupil (I cannot call his name but I believe it starts with an H) came up with drawing of one cell creatures he believed were the beginnings of life. Do you know who I am talking about? He was featured along side Darwin on a History Channel special 7/14/09 about Darwin's visit to the Galapagos. Please let me know, via email, if you have his name. Thanks.

    Charles

  6. Interesting to see the 1861 UK census returns for Hitcham where all the Henslowe family are gathered just prior to his death. I am vaguely related to J.D.Hooker.

  7. Thank you, this was a big help for my spring term paper on Charles Darwin 🙂

  8. Darwin first met the Rev Henslow on Friday evening soirees for budding naturalists at Henslow's house.

    Henslow's Friday evening meetings attracted would-be naturalists like Charles whose main interests lay outside the subjects taught in the Bachelor of Arts degree.

    Darwin quickly discovered how much he had in common with the “good natured and agreeable professor”. For his part Henslow was impressed with Darwin’s enquiring mind and was one day heard to exclaim,”what a fellow that Darwin is for asking questions.”

    Henslow was very quick to recognise the special talents and amazing scientific brain that Darwin possessed.

    Newtonsapple.org.uk

  9. The picture on the front cover of the Darwin’s mentor book is a collage of Henslow’s portrait from the Ipswich museum with the background of Cambridge
    The book launch was in All Saints Church Hitcham Suffolk. The church is currently In the middle of a major restoration project called Restoring Henslow’s Bells which includes putting up a permanent exhibition on Henslow so visitors can learn more about him. It would be interesting to hear from any of Henslow’s relatives

  10. I have a few handwritten volumes of poetry my great grandfather wrote, (Thomas Geoffrey Wall Henslow). The family link to Darwin was always a source of pride. It is always good to hear what a kind and knowledgeable man John Stevens Henslow was - his pictures show a generous spirit.
    It would be good to meet distant relatives.

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