Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker O.M., G.C.S.I.

This biography chronicles the life of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, a key botanist and supporter of Darwin, emphasizing his correspondence on natural selection.

The biography titled Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker O.M., G.C.S.I. offers an insightful glimpse into the life of one of the most significant botanists of the 19th century. Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911) was not only a pioneering figure in botany but also a key ally and correspondent of Charles Darwin. This volume, published in 1918, includes a rich collection of letters exchanged between Hooker and Darwin, where they engaged in profound discussions about the theory of natural selection, a concept that would reshape the understanding of biology.

Born in Glasgow, Hooker dedicated his life to studying plant life, embarking on several scientific expeditions that took him from the Antarctic to India. His extensive travels and meticulous research led to his appointment as the Director of the Botanical Gardens at Kew, a position he held with great distinction. The correspondence with Darwin, detailed in this biography, reveals the depth of their friendship and intellectual exchange, highlighting how Hooker was one of the first to embrace Darwin's revolutionary ideas.

The first volume of this standard biography covers Hooker's formative years and his professional journey up to 1860. It paints a vivid picture of his early life, his scientific endeavors, and his relationships with contemporaries like T. H. Huxley. The letters included in Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker O.M., G.C.S.I. serve as a testament to the collaborative spirit of science during this pivotal era.