Commentary: Who was Leonard Darwin?

Leonard Darwin (1850–1943) was the fourth son and eighth of 10 children born to first cousins Charles and Emma (nee Wedgwood) Darwin.1 Leonard showed an early interest in photography and was encouraged by his father in this pursuit. He was a rather sickly child, but grew into a healthy adult who lived a long, full life. Leonard’s nearly fatal bout of scarlet fever in 1862 likely prevented Gregor Mendel from visiting Charles Darwin when Mendel was in Downe. Leonard never forgave himself for this intrusion into history, and 80 years later he reminisced ‘If I prevented my father from meeting Mendel, do you not think that I even now ought to be hung, drawn and quartered?