Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–1895)

Contents: The Darwinian Hypothesis (1859), The Origin of Species (1860), Criticisms of "The Origin of Species" (1864), The Genealogy of Animals (1869), Mr. Darwin's Critics (1871), Evolution in Biology (1878), The Coming of Age of the Origin of Species (1880), Charles Darwin (1882), The Darwin Memorial (1885), Obituary (1888), Six Lectures...on the Phenomena of Organic Nature (1863). Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” was first published in 1859. The most influential and controversial biological book written in the 19th century, Darwin theorized that natural selection caused evolutionary change rather than the hand of God.… (more)

Individual essays individually reviewed:

1. Joseph Priestley (1874)
This is an address given on the occasion of a statue of Priestley being set up in Birmingham. It is hilarious. I don't think any modern could be so incisive yet humorous about Priestley's scientific errors as well as his scientific accomplishments and theological preoccupations.

2. Emancipation - Black and White (1865)
This is probably the essay for which Huxley is being cancelled in 2021. In this essay, a brief one celebrating the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of the former slaves in the southern United Stetes, he moves rather quickly to a call for increased rights and better education for women. What is getting him cancelled is that he states a belief that women and what he calls "negros" are inferior, while denying that that is justification for denying the people in these two groups equal rights. On the _most_ important point he was correct, at a time when many were wrong.

Overview: T. H. Huxley just couldn't resist snarking, in a Victorian way. Some of that has worn really well, like his remarks on Priestley. Some of it, like his remarks on "negroes" and women has worn less well. But it's important to remember that in his "Emancipation" speech he was not setting out to offend, _except_ by his anti-slavery stance and his support of womens' rights. As regards the rest, almost all of his hearers were probably not the least bit offended by his other remarks. You can't cancel the non-entities of the past, though, as they are already forgotten, only those of the present.… (more)

The essays are instructive and it is good as a historical record. Reviews of individual essays below.

1. The Darwininan Hypothesis (1859)
Essentially a review of Darwin's book, which had come out but recently. Hopeful but not dogmatic.

2. The Origin of Species (1860)
Long form explanation of the idea of "species" with reference to Darwin's "Origin of Species". Many excursions into records of odd reproductive facts and long quotations from original sources.

10. Obituary (1888)
A 50 page obituary of Charles Darwin, written for the Royal Society obituaries. A quite good capsule biography, by a contemporary.… (more)