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28 Aug 2025

Charles Darwin letter goes on display

A woman holds a framed old letter, as she smiles for the camera.
Visitor Services Manager Debbie Reid holds the framed Darwin letter.
A letter written by Charles Darwin to Scottish geologist Hugh Miller in 1855 is now on display inside Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Museum.

In the letter, Darwin asks to see the research that Hugh Miller conducted on fossil shellfish. Whilst many associate Darwin with his ground-breaking work on evolution and natural selection, Darwin also conducted a large amount of work on barnacles and published multiple works on the topic. His correspondence with Miller highlights how important Miller’s contributions were to the scientific community, a remarkable feat at the time for a self-taught man with no university education.

Darwin also expresses ‘great pleasure’ from reading two of Miller’s books. Although Miller did not have the chance to read Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (published 1859; Miller died in 1856), he did receive a mention: ‘He who most closely studies the action of the sea on our shores, will, I believe, be most deeply impressed with the slowness with which rocky coasts are worn away. The observations on this head by Hugh Miller, and by that excellent observer Mr Smith of Jordan Hill, are most impressive.’

The letter has now been framed and is on display in the museum at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace. The letter was part of the original contents of the cottage that the Trust acquired in 1938, which suggests it was kept in the Miller family and passed down the generations.

The display has been supported by the Friends of Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum. A new frame features UV-protective glass to ensure the safety of the delicate paper and the preservation of the detail of the writing.

Debbie Reid, Visitor Services Manager at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum, said:

‘We are thrilled to be able to share this letter with visitors. To have such a unique piece of history preserved and on display is wonderful and we hope people will gain a wider view of Miller’s work and his importance to the world of natural history.’

Quote
“With the recent announcement of Darwin’s work being recognised by the UNESCO International Memory of the World Register, we are proud to have our own special link to Darwin on display.”
Debbie Reid
Visitor Services Manager, Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum
A woman holds a framed old letter, as she smiles for the camera.

Caring for items like this letter helps support the National Trust for Scotland’s vision to care for, share and protect Scotland’s nature, heritage and beauty, as outlined in our strategy launched in 2022. It also contributes to our engagement objectives to provide access and enjoyment for everyone.

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