Sir Francis Darwin (1848–1925) was a prominent British botanist and academic, best known as the third son of Charles Darwin. From an early age, he was involved in his father's work, assisting him with experiments and acting as his secretary. This close collaboration made him the ideal person to document his father’s life and work after his death. Francis helped his father with his final publications, including The Power of Movement in Plants and The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms.
After his father's passing, Francis took on the monumental task of organizing his father's extensive correspondence and notes. He became a key figure in preserving and promoting his father's legacy, and his biography is considered an indispensable source for Darwin scholars. Francis Darwin was also an accomplished scientist in his own right, and his work in botany and plant physiology earned him a knighthood. However, it is his loving and insightful biography of his father that remains his most enduring contribution.
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