Dr A. Wilson on "Matthew Denial"

Dr A. Wilson on the hot historical, social and natural science topic of "Matthew Denial": https://t.co/KXlWT18rDo pic.twitter.com/tIcsNcDdgi

— Dr Mike Sutton (@Criminotweet) July 14, 2016

Among many, here is just one possible reason for Matthew Denial Behaviour in the 19th century

Another possible reason for the "Matthew Denial" behaviour in the 19th century : https://t.co/q7tjnoGCLV pic.twitter.com/JtTsVHR500

— Dr Mike Sutton (@Dysology) July 14, 2016

1831 was as much a politically and socially unsettled year in the USA, as it was in Britain. In 1831 Nat Turner led a violent and bloody slave rebellion in the USA. In Britain, Nottingham castle was burned to the ground during the violent Reform Riots. 

Unlike in Britain, slavery in the USA appeared to be nowhere near abolition. The British Slavery Abolition Act outlawed slavery throughout most of the British Empire, except for territories controlled by the Hooker's paymaster, the rapacious East India Company, which continued with the abhorrent practice until as late as 1843.

Darwin's pals Joseph and William Hooker - and their pal John Lindley (who, it is newly discovered, cheated Matthew by fallaciously claiming another was first to import Giant redwoods into Britain), another employee of the East India Company -  had many reasons to suppress the facts about Matthew's discovery. Their vested interests in slavery could well be one of them. The same goes for Darwin's pal David Anstead, who rubbished Matthew in 1860, because Anstead too was employed by the loathsome and murderous East India Company as lecturer at its Military Seminary at Addiscombe, as well as Kings College London.