Bernard Richard Meirion Darwin, C.B. E (for services to literature and sport) was born on September 7, 1876 and died on October 18, 1961, age 85. He was the first grandchild of the famed naturalist Charles Darwin, and the only son of Francis Darwin and Amy Ruck Darwin who died shortly after Bernard’s birth. To his friends and admirers he was known as Bernardo. Eighty five years is a long life span especially for one born in the Victorian era. Incredible as it seems, his tiny heart started beating in the month young Tommy Morris died and continued beating into the dawn of Jack Nicklaus’s reign.
Bernardo was the first writer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He was also a top-of-the-tree Amateur golfer: Captain of the Cambridge golf team; founding member of The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society; member of at least 28 golf clubs and captain of several including The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Darwin played, and won, his singles match over the United States Captain in the first Walker Cup Match. He also waged war (a true ‘Hyde’ when on the green) in 26 British Amateur Championships over five decades (his last at age 59) reaching the semi-finals twice.
Bernardo was many things to many people, some of whom couldn’t care less about golf. Contemporary eminent scholars considered Bernard Darwin to be the greatest living essayist in the English language. Although graduating from Cambridge with a Law degree, and ‘enduring too many years’ practicing as a barrister and a solicitor, he began to write in 1902 about his true love – golf. And he never stopped. His last article appeared in Golf Monthly (UK) the month he died. Most of his writings were for Country Life (UK) magazine and The Times newspaper concurrently from 1907 through 1961. But he had many other loves. Literature permeated whatever subject he was drawn to that day; witness his frequent quotes from Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Wilke Collins, Sir Arthur Conon Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, just to name a few masters. Although most of his articles, essays, and books were about golf a surprising, almost shocking, percentage were not: for example ‘Fourth Leader’ editorials in The Times, and ‘A Casual Commentary’ articles in Country Life were about subjects as diverse as cricket, elephants, public schools, children, war, foot racing, prize-fighters, railroads, gypsies, murders, zoos, circus art, etc.
He and wife Elinor (nie Monsell, from Ireland) raised their family in Downe Village, Kent, barely one mile from his childhood home, Down House. Their children inherited talent from their parents: drawing and engraving from Mama, writing and singing from Papa. Their oldest child was Ursula Francis Elinor Mommens (1908 – 2010) who became a well-known potter. Sir Robert Vere Darwin, ‘Robin’ (1910 – 1974) became an artist, educator, and Rector of the Royal College of Art. Nicola Mary Elizabeth Fenn (1916 – 1975) was a classical soprano. ‘Niccy’ was born shortly before Bernard left for Macedonia to serve as a Major in the King’s Army during ‘The Great War’.
In short, Bernard Darwin liked to admit that he was blessed to earn a living while doing the things he liked best. Bernardo and Eily rest in peace in St Mary the Virgin Churchyard in Downe.
Dick Verinder, Editor Dormy House Press Washington, Texas
London: Seeley, Service and Co. Limited, 1931. 251p, cloth. Highly underrated book, chapters by Darwin, Roger and Joyce Wethered, Hutchinson a very nice chapter on Architecture by Tim Simpson. D&J W10630.More
London: Country Life, 1921. 48p cloth, first edition. Prefatory notes reads like a who's who, Taylor, Braid, Herd and Duncan all praise his talents with the putter. Commentary by Bernard Darwin. White had a very good record in the Open after multiple close calls he eventually won in 1904 and..... More
England: Grants Books, 2022. The Old Course in the Library of Golf, 1833-1933 has been inspired by the 150th Open Championship this year when The Open returns to the Old Course at St Andrews for the 30th time. We have focused on 1833 to 1933 so as to start with..... More
Huddersfield: Privately Printed, 1949. 34 pp. Photographs, plus a diagram of the old course and the new course. 21x14 cm. (8¼x5½"), original saddle-stitched brown wrappers, lettered in dark brown. A rare club history. With a blurb from Bernard Darwin about the course. D&J W22780.More
American Golfer "magazine" Rice, Grantland (editor)
USA: American Golfer, 1933. Edited by Grantland Rice, contributors include Bernard Darwin, Abe Mitchell, Harold H. Hilton... Bobby Jones & Walter Hagen article.
Present issues;
February
April
May "Bobby Jones cover!!"
June
July "cover missing"
October
November
December
All complete and in very good condition, just July with misplaced cover. More
American Golfer "magazine" Rice, Grantland (editor)
USA: American Golfer, 1934. Edited by Grantland Rice, contributors include Bernard Darwin, Abe Mitchell, Harold H. Hilton... Bobby Jones & Walter Hagen article.
Present issues;
January
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
December
All complete and in very good condition. More
American Golfer "magazine" Rice, Grantland (editor)
USA: American Golfer, 1935. Edited by Grantland Rice, contributors include Bernard Darwin, Abe Mitchell, Harold H. Hilton... Bobby Jones & Walter Hagen article.
Present issues;
January
February
May
July
September
October
All complete and in very good condition, just July with misplaced cover. More
American Golfer "magazine" Rice, Grantland (editor)
USA: American Golfer, 1936. Edited by Grantland Rice, contributors include Bernard Darwin, Abe Mitchell, Harold H. Hilton... Bobby Jones & Walter Hagen article.
Present issues;
January
Name changed to Sports Illustrated & The American Golfer
March
April
September
All complete and in very good condition, just July with misplaced cover. More
London: Mills and Boon, 1923. 96p, cloth. illustrated, with a chapter on Theory and Practice by the dean of English golf writers, Bernard Darwin. The preface states "This little book does not profess to teach beginners how to play Golf, but it aims at interesting Golfers in a branch of..... More
London: Mills and Boon, 1923. 96p, cloth. illustrated, with a chapter on Theory and Practice by the dean of English golf writers, Bernard Darwin. The preface states "This little book does not profess to teach beginners how to play Golf, but it aims at interesting Golfers in a branch of..... More
London: Mills and Boon, 1923. 96p, cloth. illustrated, with a chapter on Theory and Practice by the dean of English golf writers, Bernard Darwin. The preface states "This little book does not profess to teach beginners how to play Golf, but it aims at interesting Golfers in a branch of..... More
London: Mills and Boon, 1923. 96p, cloth. illustrated, with a chapter on Theory and Practice by the dean of English golf writers, Bernard Darwin. The preface states "This little book does not profess to teach beginners how to play Golf, but it aims at interesting Golfers in a branch of..... More
London: Mills and Boon, 1923. 96p, cloth. illustrated, with a chapter on Theory and Practice by the dean of English golf writers, Bernard Darwin. The preface states "This little book does not profess to teach beginners how to play Golf, but it aims at interesting Golfers in a branch of..... More
London: Mills and Boon, 1923. 96p, cloth. illustrated, with a chapter on Theory and Practice by the dean of English golf writers, Bernard Darwin. The preface states "This little book does not profess to teach beginners how to play Golf, but it aims at interesting Golfers in a branch of..... More
Droitwich, Worcs., United Kingdom: Grant, 1997. 195p. cloth Limited edition No. 523 of 750 Excellent tribute to this famous Society match, many notable names homed ther golfing skills in these meeting. Essays by Bernard Darwin, Henry Longhurst, Herbert warren Wind, Pat Ward-Thomas, Laddie lucas, Peter Bathurst, John Behrend to name..... More
Droitwich, Worcestershire, England: Grant Books, 1996. 81p, cloth. limited edition 498/650 of copies.
Bernardo's home course, where he grew up and whole his life adored. D&J B45760.More
Sandwich: Privately Printed, ca 1950. 39p. decorative boards. With a foreword by Bernard Darwin. A history of golfing in East Kent at Sandwich and Deal. Campbell was the great-grandson of Robert Chambers and involved in laying out the courses at Deal, Rye and Killarney, among others. This book is a...... More
Carnoustie, Scotland: Privately Printed, 1937. 52p, illustrated wrappers. foreword by James Wright. Bernard Darwin article, the Romance of Carnoustie. Unusual green wrappers, normally beige. Contents good and clean free of any markings. D&J C5530.More
Carnoustie, Scotland: Privately Printed, 1937. 52p, illustrated wrappers. foreword by James Wright. Bernard Darwin article, the Romance of Carnoustie. Unusual green wrappers, normally beige. Contents good and clean free of any markings. D&J C5530.More
London: Eyre Spottiswoode, 1931. 147p. cloth. 1st edition of Cottons first book. Foreword by Bernard Darwin.
Signed and dated 1931 by Cotton Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. More
London: Eyre Spottiswoode, 1931. 147p. cloth. 1st edition 3rd reprint 2 months after first. Cottons first book. Foreword by Bernard Darwin. Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. More
England: Country Life, 1948. 248p. cloth Foreword by Bernard Darwin. Cotton's best book, most photograph's taken by himself. Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. D&J C23020.More
England: Country Life, 1948. 248p. cloth Foreword by Bernard Darwin. Cotton's best book, most photograph's taken by himself. Part of the Percy Boomer golf library. D&J C23020.More