Charles Darwin, the great evolutionary theorist, was a man of fixed habits. For much of his adult life, his daily routine always included:
A) A gallop across the downs on his horse, Nelson B) Making detailed sketches of specimens from his insect collection C) Smoking a pipe while solving the crossword in The Times D) Two games of backgammon with his wife, Emma ü
Upon returning from his famous voyage aboard The Beagle, Darwin lived in London for a time. It was there that he married Emma Wedgwood, when he was nearly thirty. Three years later they settled into a country house in Kent, called The Downs, where they would spend the rest of their lives. Darwin’s fixed daily routine at The Downs was recorded for posterity by his son Francis. It shows that Darwin depended heavily on his wife for company. In addition to their backgammon games each night after dinner (whose scores he recorded and retained for many years), she would read novels and letters to him during several sessions each day, and play for him on the piano. His allowance of scientific work seems to have amounted to no more than four or five hours.
