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Redalyc.Charles Darwin, Robert Fitzroy and Simón Rodríguez Met In Interciencia ISSN: 0378-1844 [email protected] Asociación Interciencia Venezuela Whittembury, Guillermo; Jaffé, Klaus; Hirshbein, Cesia; Yudilevich, David Charles Darwin, Robert Fitzroy and Simón Rodríguez met in Concepción, Chile, after the earthquake of february 20, 1835 Interciencia, vol. 28, núm. 9, septiembre, 2003, pp. 549-553 Asociación Interciencia Caracas, Venezuela Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=33908410 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative CHARLES DARWIN, ROBERT FITZROY AND SIMÓN RODRÍGUEZ MET IN CONCEPCIÓN, CHILE, AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE OF FEBRUARY 20, 1835 Guillermo Whittembury, Klaus Jaffé, Cesia Hirshbein and David Yudilevich SUMMARY Simón Rodríguez (SR) was in Concepción during the earth- elevation to coincide, the three must have talked and exchanged quake of Feb 20 1835 that destroyed the city. A month later, he ideas and views about the earthquake within the mentioned and two other dwellers were asked for a report on the state of dates. This statement is supported by additional facts: FR and the city. The report, dated Aug 13, 1835 mentions: “FitzRoy Esq. CD were hosted by a friend of SR during their visits. They men- noted that the Island of Santa Maria was upheaved 9 feet after tion having talked extensively with the inhabitants. SR was one the earthquake”. The same value appears in the reports of Rob- of the most learned persons at the time in Concepción. SR’s and ert FitzRoy (FR) and Charles Darwin (CD). CD and FR visited CD’s reports converge in several aspects. In others, however, the Concepción Mar 4-7, and RF Mar 27-Apr 17 and Jun 21-Jul 9, reports differ, although this does not weaken our assertion. Thus, 1835. There was no possibility of communication between the it is quite possible they maintained conversations previous to three men later in 1835, as SR stayed in Concepción, and CD their reports, setting their ideas in agreement, although it cannot and FR continued their voyage. The reports of RF and CD were be ruled out completely that SR got CD’s and FR’s information published only in 1839. Therefore, for their values of the island’s via another person. RESUMEN Simón Rodríguez (SR) estaba en Concepción durante el que coincidieran los valores de elevación, los tres han debido terremoto de febrero 20, 1835, que destruyó la ciudad. Un mes hablar e intercambiar ideas y vistas acerca del terremoto entre después le fue solicitado, junto a otros dos moradores, un informe las fechas mencionadas. Esta afirmación está apoyada por hechos sobre el estado de la ciudad. El informe, fechado agosto 13, 1835 adicionales: FR y CD fueron hospedados por un amigo de SR menciona que FitzRoy Esq. notó que la Isla de Santa María fue durante sus visitas y mencionan haber hablado extensamente con levantada 9 pies tras el terremoto. Igual valor aparece en los los habitantes. SR era una de las personas más ilustradas de la informes de Robert FitzRoy (FR) y Charles Darwin (CD). CD y época en Concepción. Los informes de SR y CD convergen en FR visitaron Concepción entre 4 y 7 de marzo, y RF en marzo 27 varios aspectos. En otros, sin embargo, los informes difieren, a abril 17, y junio 21 a julio 9, 1835. No hubo posibilidad de aunque ello no debilita nuestra afirmación. Es muy posible que comunicación entre los tres hombres más adelante en 1835, pues ellos mantuvieron conversaciones previas a sus informes, poniendo SR quedó en Concepción, y CD y FR continuaron viaje. Los en acuerdo sus ideas, aunque no se descarta por completo que SR informes de RF y CD fueron publicados en 1839. Por ello, para obtuvo información de CD y FR por via de otra persona. The naturalist Charles Dar- Simón Rodríguez (Salcedo- 1997 and references therein), in Concepción in 1834, and win and Captain Robert Bastardo, 1997 and references met, conversed extensively his relation to Bolívar; ii) de- FitzRoy circumnavigated the therein), pioneer in promoting and influenced each others scribes the earthquake of Feb globe on board the Beagle general education and the in- thoughts in Concepción 20, 1835 and Darwin and from 1832 to 1836 (Darwin, struction of the natural sci- (Chile), between Mar 4 and FitzRoy’s visits weeks later; 1839, 1988; FitzRoy, 1839; ences and practical work to Jul 9, 1835 after the earth- iii) compares the respective Keynes, 2002). The present both boys and girls in the quake that had destroyed that reports of Rodríguez, Darwin paper shows as highly pos- Americas; and teacher, tutor city and Talcahuano. and FitzRoy that lead us to sible that Darwin, FitzRoy and mentor of Liberator This paper i) outlines Ro- conclude that they met and and the Venezuelan polymath Simón Bolívar (Uslar Pietri, dríguez’ life until he arrived exchanged ideas about the KEYWORDS / Concepción Earthquake / Chile / Darwin Charles / FitzRoy Robert / Rodríguez Simón / Received: 06/09/2003. Modified: 08/01/2003. Accepted: 08/05/2003 Guillermo Whittembury. MD and Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Ve- Southampton University, UK. David Yudilevich. MD, Universi- Doctor in Medical Sciences nezuela. Address: IVIC, Apartado Profesor, USB. e-mail: dad de Chile (UC). Professor, (Biophysics), Universidad Caye- 21827, Caracas 1020A, Venezu- [email protected] Scholl of Medicine, UC. e-mail: tano Heredia, Peru. Emeritus Re- ela. e-mail: [email protected] Cesia Hirshbein. M.Sc. in History, [email protected] searcher, Center of Biophysics Klaus Jaffé. Chemist, Universidad USB. Profesor, Faculty of Hu- and Biochemistry, Instituto Simón Bolívar (USB), Venezue- manities and Education, UCV. Venezolano de Investigaciones la. Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour, e-mail: [email protected] SEP 2003, VOL. 28 Nº 9 0378-1844/03/09/549-05 $ 3.00/0 549 RESUMO Simón Rodríguez (SR) estava em Concepción durante o ter- 1839. Por isso, para que coincidissem os valores de elevação, os remoto de fevereiro 20, 1835, que destruiu a cidade. Um mês três devem ter falado e trocado idéias e vistas sobre o terremoto depois lhe foi solicitado, junto a outros dois moradores, um in- entre as datas mencionadas. Esta afirmação está apoiada por forme sobre o estado da cidade. O informe, fechado agosto 13 fatos adicionais: FR e CD foram hospedados por um amigo de 1835, menciona que FitzRoy Esq. notou que a Ilha de Santa SR durante suas visitas e mencionam haver falado extensamente María foi levantada 9 pés depois do terremoto. Igual valor apa- com os habitantes. SR era uma das pessoas mais ilustradas da rece nos informes de Robert FitzRoy (FR) e Charles Darwin época em Concepción. Os informes de SR e CD convergem em (CD). CD e FR visitaram Concepción entre 4 e 7 de março, e vários aspectos. Em outros, no entanto, os informes diferem, ain- RF em março 27 a abril 17, e junho 21 a julho 9, 1835. Não da que isto não debilita nossa afirmação. É bem possível que houve possibilidade de comunicação entre os três homens mais eles mantiveram conversas previas a seus informes, pondo em adiante em 1835, pois SR ficou em Concepción, e CD e FR con- acordo suas idéias, ainda que não se descarta por completo que tinuaram viaje. Os informes de RF e CD foram publicados em SR obteve informação de CD e FR por via de outra pessoa. earthquake and its conse- mitment to politics. They 1825. In Jan, 1826 Bolívar re- lished a school and published quences; and iv) overviews traveled together to Italy. In turned to Perú while Rodrí- “Lights and social virtues” Rodríguez’ activities until his Rome, Bolívar swore sol- guez stayed in Bolivia and (Rodríguez, 1834). death, since the lives of Dar- emnly to dedicate his life to established in 1826 a system win and FitzRoy are better Spanish América’s indepen- of practical workshop-schools. The Earthquake known. dence (Rodríguez, 1850). Unfortunately, Rodríguez and They would meet again 20 Bolivia’s President Marshal When the tremors were Simón Rodríguez between years later. From 1806 to Sucre (also a Venezuelan) had felt, on Feb, 20 1835, Rodrí- 1791 and 1834. 1823, Rodríguez lived in disagreements. As a conse- guez was busy at his school His Relation to Bolívar Italy, Germany, Prussia, Po- quence, in 1826, Rodríguez in Concepción. FitzRoy and land, Russia and finally in resigned his positions and Darwin had entered the Pa- Simón Rodríguez was born England, where he met again moved to Arequipa (Perú), cific Ocean, from the Atlan- in Caracas in 1769. He be- his countryman Andrés Bello, where he published “Ameri- tic, through the straight of came a Schoolmaster in 1791 after 26 years. In 1823, Ro- can Societies in 1828, how Magellan, and were in the en- (Salcedo-Bastardo, 1997). dríguez returned to South they will be and could be in virons of Valdivia (Darwin, The boy Bolívar was sent to América by way of Colombia, the coming centuries” (Rodrí- 1839, 1988; FitzRoy, 1839; his school as a day pupil in reassumed his name of Simón guez, 1828), stressing the Keynes, 2002). Valdivia is lo- 1792 and as a full boarder in Rodríguez, and established a need for original solutions for cated some 350km S of Rodríguez’ home in 1795. Workshop-School in Bogotá the problems of Spanish Concepción. Bolívar, born in 1783, had (Salcedo-Bastardo, 1997). America. There he also pub- FitzRoy describes the earth- lost his father in 1786 and Spanish América became lished “Observations about quake as follows: “At 10 in his mother in 1792 (Uslar independent from the Spanish the land of river Vincocaya, the morning of the 20th of Pietri, 1997).
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