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VOYAGE OF THE HMS RATTLESNAKE
In 1845, Huxley graduated with a medical degree, but found himself too young (20) to apply for a license to practice. He was concerned about how he was going to cover his debts, so a friend suggested applying for an appointment with the Royal Navy. He applied for the Royal Navy and was accepted. Within a couple of months, Huxley was assigned to the old ship Victory, for duty at Haslar Hospital at which he held for seven months. The Chief at Haslar, Sir John Richardson took a liking to Huxley and attempted to obtain a resident appointment for Huxley, but without success, vowed to keep Huxley until he could find a place Huxley would like. Eventually, Richardson was asked by the Rattlesnake’s captain-to-be, Owen Stanley, to recommend an assistant-surgeon for the ship. His recommendation was Thomas Huxley, so Huxley applied for the position and was accepted as Assistant Surgeon (surgeon’s mate). Huxley served in this capacity until 1950.[2]
The HMS Rattlesnake was a frigate which was converted to a survey ship designed and equipped to carry out research at sea. The Rattlesnake voyage sailed the Australian and New Zealand waters of the southern hemisphere doing zoological research on surface animals of tropical seas. Huxley spent his time studying marine invertebrates by collecting and dissecting them. His research and interest in the jellyfish (medusa family) led to the formulation of the zoological class Hydrozoa and the realization that the two germ layers found in members of this class are comparable to the two germ layers that arise in the early embryological stages of higher animals.[3]
During the time he spent on the Rattlesnake, he repeatedly sent detailed information on his findings back to the Linnean Society (a British science society) in London, but due to the movement of the ship, he never received any replies. Huxley related the results of his efforts to communicate with the group to that of Noah when the raven was repeatedly sent out from his ark. In one last effort to communicate his findings back home, he created a more elaborate paper, which this time, he sent to the Royal Society. Huxley related to this last effort as his dove and did not even know it. Huxley did not find out his works had been printed and published by the Royal Society in 1849 until his return to England in late 1850.
Although he returned to London in 1850, he was retained by the Royal Navy as an assistant surgeon until 1853.
Katheryn M. Auton
Joshua Withers
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