RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1870. [Letter of apology regarding the honorary degree ceremony at Oxford]. Oxford University Gazette 1(20) (17 June): 5.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2007, 3.2025. RN4
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here. This contains a quotation of Darwin's words from a lost letter and previously unknown letter. When this letter found in 2007 John van Wyhe sent it to the editors of the Darwin correspondence who chose not to include it as a letter but did cite it in a footnote to the 27 June 1870 letter from Bartholomew James Sulivan.
[page] 5
In a CONVOCATION to be holden in the Theatre on Wednesday, June the 22nd, at Eleven A.M., it will be proposed to confer the Honorary Degree of D.C.L. on—
[...]
F. K. Leighton, Vice-Chancellor.
Delegates' Room, June 13, 1870.
N.B. The name of CHARLES DARWIN, Esq., F.R.S., would have been included in the foregoing list, but he writes that his health is such "that he could not withstand the fatigue and excitement of receiving an Honorary Degree."
1 This is an extract from a letter by Darwin apologizing for not attending the honorary degree ceremony (for a D.C.L.) at Oxford in June 1870. The extract was reprinted in the Oxford University Gazette 1(20) (21 June): 5; The Times (20 June 1870), p. 11 and Nature (23 June 1870), p. 148. It is frequently claimed that Darwin feigned ill health to avoid the Oxford event. There is no evidence to suggest or support this. Darwin later accepted an honorary LL.D degree from the University of Cambridge in 1877. See John van Wyhe, Darwin in Cambridge: The most joyful years, 2014.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 March, 2025