To Edwin Ray Lankester   25 June 1869

Down, Beckenham, | Kent.

June 25th, 1869.

I have read several of Mr. E. Ray Lankester’s papers in various Journals, and have been struck by the ability and knowledge shown in them, and by his zeal for Science. Therefore in my opinion he would be well-qualified for giving Lectures on Biology, and for leading students along the right path.1

Charles Darwin.

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1
Lankester was a candidate for the Lee’s Readership in anatomy at Christ Church, Oxford; he was unsuccessful (see Lester 1995, pp. 22–3). No letter from Lankester requesting a recommendation has been found.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6803,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6803