Desmond Morris's Napoleonic Cannonball Origin Story
Desmond Morris traces his passion for ethology and zoology to a cannonball fired by Napoleon's artillery. In his autobiographical book "Un cervo in metropolitana," he recounts that his great-great-grandfather James Morris, fighting in Spain, lost an arm to a French cannonball. Forced to abandon farming, James became a bookseller, enabling his son William—founder of the first popular English daily newspaper—to amass a substantial natural history library. The remnants of that collection, stored in a trunk, were discovered by a young Desmond Morris in his attic, alongside a brass microscope, minerals, and fossils, including a strange 17th-century book.
Key facts
- Desmond Morris's interest in ethology and zoology was sparked by a cannonball from Napoleon's artillery.
- The story is told in his autobiographical book "Un cervo in metropolitana."
- His great-great-grandfather James Morris lost an arm to a French cannonball while fighting in Spain.
- After losing his arm, James Morris became a bookseller.
- James's son William Morris founded the first popular English daily newspaper.
- William Morris built a large natural history library.
- The surviving part of the library was stored in a trunk.
- Desmond Morris found the trunk in his attic, containing a brass microscope, minerals, fossils, and a 17th-century book.
Entities
Artists
- Desmond Morris
Locations
- Spain