Top biologist scientists of the 20th century (e.g. Sir Gavin de beer, Ernst Mayer and Richard Dawkins) and naturalists of the 19th century (e.g. Charles Darwin, Alfred Wallace and Patrick Matthew) all agreed that in 1831 the Scottish apple hybridisation expert, orchard owner and forester, Patrick Matthew, was first into published print with the full and complete breakthrough theory of evolution by natural selection. Under the rules of priority in science that should have given Matthew full credit over Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace who later went into print with the exact same theory in 1858/1859, claiming to have each arrived at it independently. However, Darwin claimed Matthew’s theory was not read until Matthew published a letter in 1860 to claim priority. Today, with the benefit of BigData we now know Matthew’s book was read and then cited in published print by at least 30 people pre 1858. Several of them were acknowledged influencers of Darwin and Wallace and their influencers. These are independently verifiable empirical data facts of what is in the historical publication record. Just like fossils in the geological record. The problem is that our institutions of science are studiously failing to engage with these facts and are instead holding on to the beloved science myth of the story told by Darwin even though it is proven to be a complete myth.
The Patrick Matthew violin was commissioned by criminologist Dr Mike Sutton (now a retired academic but Editor of The Internet Journal of Criminology) author of Science Fraud: Darwin’s Plagiarism of Patrick Matthew’s Theory (Curtis Press 2022).
Master violin maker Steve Burnett of Edinburgh made the violin from a fallen ancient apple tree in the grounds of Megginch Castle in the Carse of Gowrie. The castle neighbours Matthew’s old home (now demolished) and may well have been planted by Matthew as he was great friends with the castle owner. Both their names are engraved on a curling trophy in the Castle. Steve Burnett also made the bass bar of the violin from locally sourced driftwood.
Sutton commissioned Burnett to make The Patrick Matthew violin because of the makers notable tribute violins to other Scottish heroes.
Sutton asks us a most exquisite ironic telling question: “Is it not ironic that in what has come to be known as the post truth age that we have come to the point on the eve of the 150th anniversary of the death of Patrick Matthew that it falls to the arts to inform science that science and its history should be based on empirical facts and not made up beloved stories?”
Read about the Patrick Matthew Violin on the relevant Patrick Matthew Website page
