Philip Henry Gosse 
Omphalos [EPUB ebook] 
"If any choose to maintain, as many do, that species were gradually brought to their maturity from humbler forms … he is welcome to his hypothesis, but I have nothing to do with it."

Philip Henry Gosse was born in Gloucester on April 6th, 1810 and is remembered as one of the earliest natural scientists whose curiosity enabled much to be discovered and understood about our surroundings. Such was his enthusiasm for observation that he started the Victorian craze of aquariums. He tried to reconcile his religious zeal with an interpretation of scientific fact that almost cost him his reputation. Instead it propelled him forward to engage with ever more curiosity on all manner of subjects and to write carefully and draw beautifully of what he discovered.