This is the grave of naturalist Charles Darwin in the Abbey's nave, close to memorials to other great scientists including Sir Isaac Newton. Darwin's famous work 'On the Origin of Species' was published in 1859, the culmination of almost twenty years of research into this theory of natural selection. The Dean of Westminster, George Granville Bradley, was away in France when he received a telegram from the President of the Royal Society in London saying "...it would be acceptable to a very large number of our fellow-countrymen of all classes and opinions that our illustrious countryman, Mr Darwin, should be buried in Westminster Abbey". The Dean recalled "I did not hesitate as to my answer and telegraphed direct...that my assent would be cheerfully given". Bishop of Carlisle, Harvey Goodwin, in a memorial sermon preached in the Abbey on the Sunday following the funeral, said: 'I think that the interment of the remains of Mr Darwin in Westminster Abbey is in accordance with the judgment of the wisest of his countrymen...It would have been unfortunate if anything had occurred to give weight and currency to the foolish notion which some have diligently propagated, but for which Mr Darwin was not responsible, that there is a necessary conflict between a knowledge of Nature and a belief in God...' #WestminsterAbbey #WestminsterAbbeyLondon #Museum30 #MuseumsOfInstagram #Darwin #CharlesDarwin #science #history