Chapters in My Life

Leonard Jenyns (180093; he changed his name late in life to benefit from a legacy) was a clergyman and a respected naturalist and zoologist. A distinguished member of a dozen scientific societies he was educated at Eton and then at St John''s College Cambridge where he graduated in 1822. During his tenure as vicar in Swaffham Bulbeck he made important contributions to zoology becoming one of the original members of the Zoological Society of London. In 1831 unwilling to spend years away from his parish responsibilities he turned down the chance to travel as the naturalist on-board H.M.S. Beagle. Published in 1889 this is the second edition of Jenyns'' autobiography which he had first had privately printed. It starts with the major events of his life then shares a series of scientific anecdotes including his decision to recommend Darwin instead of himself as the naturalist for the Beagle voyage.