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[ 70 ] tHirteen v฀ Darwin’s Bulldog The Origin beCame tHe main toPiC of conversation in scientific circles, but Darwin remained secluded at Down. The first major test of how the scientific community would view his theory was at the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Oxford on 30 June 1860. Darwin did not attend, knowing that his supporters would champion his cause. The Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce , known as “Soapy Sam” because of his slick oratory, was invited to reply to a paper on “civilization according to the Darwinian hypothesis.” It was obvious that Wilberforce had been coached by Richard Owen. The meeting was crowded with about 1000 people, including reporters and politicians, and tension filled the air. The bishop paused during his monologue, turned to Huxley (who was representing Darwin), and asked whether it was on his grandfather’s or his grandmother’s side that he was descended from an ape. The audience erupted with laughter at this insult. Huxley slowly arose, turned to the bishop, and replied to the effect that given the choice of a lowly ape or a person of privilege such as my lord bishop who would introduce ridicule into a scientific discussion, he would unhesitatingly choose the ape! Pandemonium broke out, women swooned, undergraduates chanted “monkey, monkey,” and FitzRoy stalked out of the room holding a bible over his head [ 71 ] and shouting “The Book! The Book!” This must have been an incredible moment and would make a wonderful movie scene. This is how Huxley earned the nickname “Darwin’s Bulldog.” The Origin was translated into eleven European languages within Darwin’s lifetime and at least twenty-nine languages to date. The first Japanese edition was published in 1896, and the first Chinese edition in 1903. The two combatants in the Oxford debate of 1860: Reverend Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford (left), and Dr. Thomas Henry Huxley (right). (From cartoons in Vanity Fair, July 1869 and January 1871, respectively.) ...

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