Leonard Darwin photo

Leonard Darwin

Leonard Darwin was an English politician, economist and eugenicist. He was a son of the naturalist Charles Darwin, brother of naturalist Francis Darwin, and brother of astronomer George Darwin.

President of the First International Congress of Eugenics (1912)


“My firm conviction is that if wide-spread Eugenic reforms are not adopted during the next hundred years or so, our Western Civilization is inevitably destined to such a slow and gradual decay as that which has been experienced in the past by every great ancient civilization. The size and the importance of the United States throws on you a special responsibility in your endeavours to safeguard the future of our race. Those who are attending your Congress will be aiding in this endeavour, and though you will gain no thanks from your own generation, posterity will, I believe, learn to realize the great dept it owes to all the workers in this field.”
Leonard Darwin
Read more
“Of all the problems which will have to be faced in the future, in my opinion, the most difficult will be those concerning the treatment of the inferior races of mankind.”
Leonard Darwin
Read more
“Dedicated to the memory of MY FATHER. For if I had not believed that he would have wished me to give such help as I could toward making his life's work of service to mankind, I should never have been led to write this book.”
Leonard Darwin
Read more