Charles Darwin changed the course of science and how we understand nature, but did you know that some of his most important observations would not have been possible without the expert help of a young Black taxidermist? John Edmonstone, a former enslaved man from Guyana is one of history’s most influential but little-known Black Britons. Edmonstone was living in Edinburgh when he met a young Charles Darwin and shared his techniques for stuffing birds - a skill that came in handy when Darwin came to preserve his famous Galápagos finches during his voyage on HMS Beagle.
This film was produced as part of Black History Month 2023.
00:00 Who was Charles Darwin?
0:43 Who was John Edmonstone?
2:11 How did Charles Darwin and John Edmonstone meet?
3:24 Why was John Edmonstone so important to life and history of Darwin?
4:25 What happened to John Edmonstone and why is so little known about him?
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