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Further details concerning the Darwin–Wallace presentation to the Linnean Society in 1858, including its submission on 1 July, not 30 June

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Evidence from the Linnean Society’s ledger of papers received in 1858 points to 1 July as the date of submission of the Darwin–Wallace papers for the famous meeting of the same evening. It has been widely assumed, and repeatedly stated, that the submission was on 30 June. but this article shows that this seems to be a wrong assumption. Acceptance of this later submission date also provides an explanation of the ‘oddities’ in the letter of transmittal. In turn, this reading implies further details about the separate roles of Hooker and Lyell in the crucial 13 days before the meeting.

Keywords: Darwin; Evolution; Hooker; Linnean Society; Lyell; Wallace; natural selection

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: Emeritus Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

Publication date: 25 April 2016

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