Abstract

Heinrich Georg Bronn, one of the leading nineteenth-century palaeontologists was also known as the translator of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. He undertook his translation soon after the publication of Darwin's work and added a critical post-scriptum. Still in 1857 Bronn had written unambiguously in favour of the constancy of biological species. After the publication of the Origin of Species he thought that in spite of a number of objections which could be brought forward, the future belonged to Darwin's theory and supported with great commitment its spreading. It is puzzling that Bronn did so when he was almost 60 and committed to a religious outlook. The history of the reception of Darwin's doctrine shows that, as a rule, older scientists with such religious worldviews would not support Darwin. The analysis of Bronn's earlier writings and the correspondence between Darwin and Bronn will throw light on the reasons why he represented an exemption. Bronns opinion of Darwin's theory shows the wide gap between the older typologically-inclined natural history and Darwin's evolutionary theory. To conclude, Bronn's translation of the Origin of Species as well as his post-scriptum were of considerable importance for the reception of Darwin's ideas in the german-speaking world.