Leonard Blomefield
Encyclopedia
Leonard Jenyns, later known as Leonard Blomefield (25 May 1800–1 September 1893) was a clergyman-naturalist
.
He was the youngest son of George Leonard Jenyns and his wife Mary (1763-1832) the daughter of Dr. William Heberden
(1710–1801). The Jenyns lived on Bottisham Hall property which his father had inherited on the death of his cousin Soame Jenyns
(1704–1787). He was vicar in Swaffham Bulbeck
1828-49.
In 1831, he was originally selected to be the gentleman naturalist on second voyage of HMS Beagle
but rejected this offer on the grounds that he couldn't leave Swaffham Bulbeck for the required five years. Instead he suggested Charles Darwin
.
Darwin, who respected him as a naturalist, and continued correspondence with him through publication of On the Origin of Species, wrote to Charles Lyell
in Feb. 1860: "L. Jenyns has a really philosophical mind.... [H]e is more candid than any opposer I have heard of, for he says, though he cannot go so far as I do, yet he can give no good reason why he should not. It is funny how each man draws his own imaginary line at which to halt."
In 1871, Jenyns inherited property from his father's cousin, Francis Blomefield
. As a condition of the inheritance Jenyns changed his name to Blomefield by Royal Licence.
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
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He was the youngest son of George Leonard Jenyns and his wife Mary (1763-1832) the daughter of Dr. William Heberden
William Heberden
William Heberden , English physician, was born in London, where he received the early part of his education.At the end of 1724 he was sent to St John's College, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship, around 1730, became master of arts in 1732, and took the degree of MD in 1739...
(1710–1801). The Jenyns lived on Bottisham Hall property which his father had inherited on the death of his cousin Soame Jenyns
Soame Jenyns
Soame Jenyns was an English writer.- Biography :He was the son of Sir Roger Jenyns and his second wife Elizabeth Soame, the daughter of Sir Peter Soame. He was born in London, and was educated at St Johns College, Cambridge. In 1742 he was chosen M.P...
(1704–1787). He was vicar in Swaffham Bulbeck
Swaffham Bulbeck
Swaffham Bulbeck is a village in East Cambridgeshire, England.Swaffham Bulbeck is located about from the city of Cambridge, and from the famous racing town of Newmarket. The parish of Swaffham Bulbeck is part of the Diocese of Ely and the Deanery of Fordham and Quy...
1828-49.
In 1831, he was originally selected to be the gentleman naturalist on second voyage of HMS Beagle
HMS Beagle
HMS Beagle was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 11 May 1820 from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames, at a cost of £7,803. In July of that year she took part in a fleet review celebrating the coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom in which...
but rejected this offer on the grounds that he couldn't leave Swaffham Bulbeck for the required five years. Instead he suggested Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
.
Darwin, who respected him as a naturalist, and continued correspondence with him through publication of On the Origin of Species, wrote to Charles Lyell
Charles Lyell
Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Baronet, Kt FRS was a British lawyer and the foremost geologist of his day. He is best known as the author of Principles of Geology, which popularised James Hutton's concepts of uniformitarianism – the idea that the earth was shaped by slow-moving forces still in operation...
in Feb. 1860: "L. Jenyns has a really philosophical mind.... [H]e is more candid than any opposer I have heard of, for he says, though he cannot go so far as I do, yet he can give no good reason why he should not. It is funny how each man draws his own imaginary line at which to halt."
In 1871, Jenyns inherited property from his father's cousin, Francis Blomefield
Francis Blomefield
Francis Blomefield was an English antiquary, who projected a county history of Norfolk. During his lifetime, he compiled and published detailed accounts of the city of Norwich, Borough of Thetford and the southern hundreds of the county, but died before the whole work could be completed.-Biography...
. As a condition of the inheritance Jenyns changed his name to Blomefield by Royal Licence.