In June 1858, Darwin received a letter and manuscript from , a young naturalist working in Indonesia. To Darwin’s shock, Wallace had independently developed a theory of natural selection nearly identical to his own. After 20 years of secretive research, Darwin realized he was in danger of being "scooped" and losing credit for his discovery. Personal Tragedy
: His infant son, Charles Waring Darwin , died of scarlet fever during the very week he was grappling with Wallace's manuscript. Darwin's Darkest Hour
: Darwin feared his theory would devastate his wife, Emma, a devout Christian who believed his ideas might separate them in the afterlife. The Resolution In June 1858, Darwin received a letter and
Prompted by his colleagues and Joseph Dalton Hooker , Darwin agreed to a joint presentation of both his and Wallace’s papers at the Linnean Society on July 1, 1858. This compromise allowed him to retain his priority while acknowledging Wallace's contribution. Galvanized by the crisis, Darwin spent the next year condensing his "big book" into what became On the Origin of Species , published in 1859. Media Depiction REVIEW: “Darwin's Darkest Hour” on PBS's NOVA Personal Tragedy : His infant son, Charles Waring
This professional threat hit Darwin during a time of intense family suffering:
"Darwin's Darkest Hour" refers to a critical period in 1858 when Charles Darwin faced a profound personal and professional crisis that nearly derailed his life's work. The Core Crisis: The Wallace Letter
: His children were battling scarlet fever and diphtheria.