From Jena to Kent, with love

 السلام عليكم و رحمة الله

Charles Darwin

 I think it's important to establish the reality of the friendship between Charles Darwin and Ernst Haeckel. Haeckel has proven to be a worthy disciple for Darwin in Germany, for if it wasn't for Haeckel's dedication to spread Darwinism, history might have been a little different.

Ernst Haeckel with his wife
 Anna Sethe

It all started when Charles Darwin finished writing his book On the Origin of Species in 1859. Then Heinrich Georg Bronn translated it into German in 1860's under the title "Uber die Entstehung der Arten im Thier- und Pflanzen-Reich durch naturliche Zuchtung oder, Erhaltung der vervollkommneten Rassen im Kampfe im's Daseyn". In the same year as it was translated (remember it was translated only after a few months of publication of Origin) Haeckel immediately gobbled the book with "overpowering and lasting impression on me"[1]

Haeckel was actually away in Nice, France, studying jellyfishes and upon his return he gobbled the Origin of Species. After he read it he gave his full admiration to the book in public and Darwin somehow knew that a "first-rate German naturalist (I now forget name!!) who has lately published grand folio has spoken out to the utmost extent on the Origin"[2]

Haeckel sent a letter to Darwin praising the book (Origin) and he also asked Darwin to read his book on radiolaria.[3] Darwin responded happily saying, "Your letters are always most kind. I shall be proud to receive your monograph on the Radiolariae which I saw & much admired in London" [4]

Old Ernst Haeckel

Darwin got the monograph on radiolaria and was amazed by it. He was actually amazed by it due to the minute and most infinite structure in these tiny little animals. I myself was shocked when I knew such things existed after reading Michael Denton's recent book Evolution: Still a Theory in Crisis. 

Then Haeckel sent a letter (where he explains that he was away, in Nice) to Darwin explaining how overpowering the Origin was upon him and that, "without exaggerating - has occupied my mind every day most pressingly" because evolution by natural selection, which Haeckel firmly understood and comprehended[5] solved all the mysteries that they couldn't solve without evolution. Haeckel gives

Radiolaria

the glad tidings to Darwin that his theory is spreading in German very quickly,[6]  and that the older scientist are as arrogant as ever due to their "long-familiar dogmas" and because of that they have lost the ability to "appreciate without prejudice anything new - even if it should be truth itself..." but "Among the younger scientist" they are "enthusiastic followers" and eventually there will be more "sincere followers" of Darwinism in Germany than in England. Why will there be more sincere followers in Germany than England? Haeckel answers that by saying "overall the Germans seem to me... less fettered by religious and social prejudice than the English". Lectures on evolution were attended by not just the "students of science and medicine, but also by philosophers and historians, and even by theologians". Why historians? Because evolution "opens a new world, for in applying the theory of descent to man (as has been so successfully done by Huxley and Vogt[7]) they will find the way to integrate the history of man into the history of nature". Now Haeckel, after giving Darwin a nice smirk on his face, gives a little information on his own personal life. "I hope you will excuse me if I add a few details regarding to my personal attitude to your theory, for I intend to dedicate my entire life to it and to employ all my energies in its advancement... [and] I have been working on a general history of creation[8] for several years now" which would unite the whole animal kingdom into a tree. "I am only 30 years old, but a stroke of fate has destroyed all prospects of happiness in my life" (his wife Anna Sethe died). "Forgive me... with this long letter... "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks".[9] Then he assures Darwin,

One of the books that Haeckel authored
which Darwin tried to read, because he
struggled to read German.

"Hoping, dear Sir, that your health will improve and that it will allow you for many years yet to continue the battle for truth and against human prejudice, I remain with the most sincere e
steem, yours truly devoted | Ernst Haeckel"

Darwin, who by now was very happy, "Hurrah", with such a long and lovely response finds himself writing a letter to Joseph D. Hooker saying, "By the way, I had a grand letter this morning from a very good German Zoologist E. Haecke, who maintains that all the best of the younger men are enthusiasts for natural selection, & that Germany will soon beat England in this respect. Hurrah & Farewell | Ever yours | affectionately | C. Darwin"[10]

You can almost taste the happiness felt by Darwin.

A week later Darwin writes a response back to Haeckel thanking him for his praise and feels "grieved to hear that you have suffered any heavy calamity" and in that letter Darwin gives a picture of himself to Haeckel (the modern way of sending a picture via Whatsapp) and asks Haeckel to "send me your photograph, as I should much like to possess a copy".[11]

Another book authored by Haeckel which
also Darwin tried to read but faced
difficulties.

You can almost imagine Haeckel flying to the moon that he has a personal photo of Darwin in his own hands from a man he venerates so much. So he rushes to his collection of photos and takes out a photo so dear to him with a broken heart because the photo didn't just contain Haeckel but also the woman who was the happiness of his life[12] and sends it to Darwin. However, before sending it to Darwin, the photo was accompanied by a letter. The letter was written a month later and then sent to Darwin. Darwin receives it. The letter says,

"With this letter I send you at your request my photograph, as a small return for the highly desirable and valuable present which you made me of your own portrait. I cannot, however send you only a photograph of myself, but it must be accompanied by the portrait of my wife, who was the happiness of my life and cherished for the name "Darwin" just as high an admiration and reverence as I do. I was only granted to live one and a half years in most happy union with this woman who was highly gifted in every respect. On the 16th of February this year a typhoid fever tore her away from me in a few hours, on the very day I completed my thirtieth year. With the clarity of understanding and warmth of feeling that only women of Germanic stock possess, she shared everything with me, especially in my love of nature and truth. She was so enthusiastic about your theory of descent, that she constantly encouraged me to work on it further and in the most loving manner often called me her German "Darwin-mann"

Haeckel's fake embryo drawings.
Embryo's do not look like this at all,
at least in the first and second line.

Poor Haeckel, but at least he was called "German Darwin" by his wife before she died. On 16th February, it was Haeckel's birthday (as the letter says) and the death of his wife but also the day he received the award for his work on radiolaria. What a day. No wonder he called it "stroke of fate".

Haeckel buckles up and carries on saying,

"The history of the theory of descent is also extremely interesting and I witness with great joy, how even a long time ago, the greatest German philosophers and thinkers have a prior proclaimed this theory to be the only possible way of understanding the origin of species. But you, through the epoch-making discovery of "Natural Selection" and "Struggle for life", have for the first time provided the concrete proof for that abstract statement. The most beautiful expression of this was given by our greatest poet, Goethe..." 

And Haeckel finishes his letter by expressing gratitude.[13]

Darwin of course responds back thanking him and also explaining to him his personal life. So Darwin explained to him how he reached the conclusion that he expressed in the Origin. He said,

"When I joined the "Beagle" as Naturalist I knew extremely little about Natural History, but I worked hard. In South America three classes of facts were brought strongly before my mind: 1stly the manner in which closely allied species replace species in going Southward.

2ndly the close affinity of the species inhabiting the Islands near to S. America to those proper to the Continent. This struck me profoundly, especially the differences of the species in the adjoining islets in the Galapagos Archipelago. 3rdly the relation of the living Edentata & Rodentia to the extinct species. I shall never forget my astonishment when I dug out a gigantic piece of armour like that of the living Armadillo.

Reflecting on these facts & collecting analogous ones, it seemed to me probable that allied species were descended from a common parent. But for some years I could not conceive how each form became so excellently adapted to its habit of life. I then began systematically to study domestic productions, & after a time saw clearly that man's selective power was the most important agent. I was prepared from having studied the habits of animals to appreciate the struggle for existence, & my work in Geology gave me some idea of the lapse of past time. Therefore when I happened to read "Malthus on population" the idea of Natural selection flashed on me. Of all the minor points, the last which I appreciated was the importance & cause of the principle of Divergence. I hope I have not wearied you with this little history of the "Origin".... With sincere respect | Believe me my dear Sir | yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin".[14]

After some letters being exchanged, they remained silent until Haeckel hears the news from Huxley that Darwin is ill. So Haeckel sends a letter feeling sorry for Darwin and wanting Darwin to remain "with us and science for a long time yet". He assures Darwin that he is making lectures called "on Darwin's theory" with the university theater being packed, in fact he says that Dawin's theory was "most popular of all lectures". Unfortunately Haeckel hadn't yet finished the book because he's a professor now doing all these lectures and stuff, so he tries his best to finish it quickly. He finally says "Whenever I write to you, dear Sir, I must reiterate my warmest thanks for the unfailing inspiration and the vigorous stimulus that your classical theory gives me. Ever since the death of my most dearly beloved wife put an end to and destroyed my emotional life, all I have left is the aspiration to employ the keenest intellect in understanding the true nature
and continuity of natural things. This aspiration occupies me in my hermit-like existence day and night, and I owe this aspiration solely to your work. May you long remain in vigorous health, so as to witness the reform of biology which you began, and to enjoy the fruits of your great intellectual achievement. This is the most heartfelt with of your sincerely devoted | Ernst Haeckel."[15]

I like how he says that his only aim in life is to pursue knowledge because he's the same man who drew fake embryo drawings. Nevertheless, Darwin responds back saying that there was no surprise that he hadn't published his work and basically ends it with "With the most sincere respect & good wishes believe me my dear Sir yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin" [16]

Then after some more letters being exchanged between them (nothing of importance) Haeckel asks Darwin if he could meet him personally. "At last one of my fondest wishes is to be fulfilled. I hope to be able to meet and talk to you shortly... I am only in London for a short time, as I will be going on the next steamship to Madeira and Tenerife where I will stay the winter and conduct zoological research.

My ""generelle Morphologie der Organisem, based on Darwin's reformed theory of descent" is now finished and you will receive it in the next couple of weeks... I may soon, perhaps,tell you more about it in person. Hopefully I will find you in the best possible health. With the most excellent admiration I remain yours with wholehearted devotion | Ernst Haeckel"[17]

Darwin responds with a yes and explains to Haeckel how to reach his house.[18]

Even though there are more letters exchanged between them but I hope I have made it clear that the friendship between Haeckel & Darwin was a close one. At one point Darwin gave Haeckel £100 for financial support. Haeckel tells Darwin he's going to get married to Agnes Huschke (didn't Haeckel say he had no more emotion and only cared about pursuing knowledge?) among other things. In fact Darwin honoured Haeckel by mentioning him in his own book Descent of Man, where Darwin said,

"This last naturalist [Haeckel], besides his great work, Generelle Morphologie (1866), has recently (1868, with a second edit. in 1870), published his Naturliche Schopfungsgeschichte, in which he fully discusses the genealogy of man. If this work had appeared before my essay [Descent] had been written, I should probably never have completed it."[19]

Rather than making this article, as long as it is, a long one, I think it's better to stop here and contemplate on the fact that Darwin was a huge influence on Haeckel but as we all should know, Haeckel used evolution to promote extermination on the "lower races". This friendship only produced a vehemently racist person. A racist German Darwin.

And one more fact before you go, Haeckel was writing most of his letters from Jena, in fact he was a professor for one year in the University of Jena and he died in 1919. Do you know who else was a professor in the University of Jena? Hans F. K. Günther. Do you know who appointed Günther, in 1930, in that University in the first place? Adolf Hitler. Do you know who attended Günther's inaugural lecture? Adolf Hitler.


Note

All letters from Haeckel to Darwin are in German. The translation is provided by Darwin Correspondence Project,


References

1. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4555. Click here to access the letter.

2. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4047. Click here to access the letter.

3. The letter is actually missing but the response that Darwin gives proves that Haeckel praised the book and asked Darwin's opinion on his work on radiolaria.

4. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4361. Click here to access the letter.

5. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4422. Click here to access the letter.

6. In fact Hugh Falconer in 1861 sent a letter to Darwin telling him that his theory was everywhere in Italy and Germany because Falconer was travelling, for research. Falconer said, "My Dear Darwin, I have been rambling through the north of Italy and Germany lately. Every where have I heard your views, and your admirable essay canvassed...". Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 3914. Click here to access the letter.

7. See my previous article on Carl Vogt's racism. Vogt draws a table (which Darwin derives his answers from) about the heads sizes of different races of man. The race with the smallest head are closer to apes whilst the English, with the biggest head, are superior. Click here. As for Huxley, a very close friend to Darwin and a racist, you can read Adrian Desmond's biography of Huxley.

8. His book that he was making is called Generelle Morphology (1866). He then published "The History of Creation" published in 1868, with a second editionNaturliche Schopfungsgschichte.
in 1870. The original name is

9. Gospel of Matthew 12:34.

10.  Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4561. Click here to access the letter.

11.  Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4569. Click here to access the letter.

12. I think the photo above is the photo that he sent to Darwin, though I am not 100% sure.

13. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4586. Click here to access the letter.

14. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4631. Click here to access the letter.

15. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4934. Click here to access the letter.

16. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 4947. Click here to access the letter.

17. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 5248. Click here to access the letter.

18. Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter number 5224. Click here to access the letter.

19. Darwin, The Descent of Man, Wordsworth Classics of World Literature, page 5.