Tag Archives: Charles Darwin

Sedgwick’s Boots

Posted on 20/06/2019 by carolinemmurray

I begin with an appalling confession, made because of my reasonable confidence that nobody (least of all @TheMuseumOfLiz) actually reads this stuff … Here goes: although the Golden Jubilee of my arrival in Cambridge is only just below the horizon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Cambridge, Exploration, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pressing Matters

Posted on 24/04/2016 by carolinemmurray

In my view, you can never have too much of a good thing if that thing involves the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, so I was delighted a few days ago to participate in a study session on J.S. Henslow’s influence … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

St Lubbock And His Pet Wasp

Posted on 03/04/2016 by carolinemmurray

A mostly self-taught polymath who knew everyone there was to known for two-thirds of the nineteenth century, banker, philanthropist, Member of Parliament, archaeologist, anthropologist, entomologist, geologist, best-selling author, slight eccentric (see pet wasp, and teaching poodle to read, below) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Biography, History, Natural history | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Etty Before Aunthood

Posted on 21/03/2016 by carolinemmurray

Lovers of Gwen Raverat’s memoir Period Piece will remember Aunt Etty as one of the more eccentric of a colourful band of Darwin aunts and uncles who populated her childhood. Henrietta Darwin (1843–1927) was the eldest surviving daughter of Charles … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, History, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dried Flowers

Posted on 12/11/2015 by carolinemmurray

Just back from a brilliant tour of the Cambridge University Herbarium, in the Sainsbury Laboratory next to, but not formally connected to, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Many thanks to Christine Bartram, the Chief Herbarium Technician, for making us so … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

St Helena

Posted on 06/10/2015 by carolinemmurray

I say St Helena, you say Napoleon, or possibly vice versa. It’s undoubtedly the case that this tiny and remote island is most famous because of its reluctant and ex-imperial guest between 1815 and his death in 1821. Large numbers … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, History, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Professor Henslow’s Legacy

Posted on 17/05/2015 by carolinemmurray

To CUBG on Saturday for the Festival of Plants: it started cloudy and windy but cleared up to blue sky and bright sunshine. As usual, there was a marquee with stalls showing the work of the Sainsbury Laboratory and other … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments