Darwin was the son of Francis Darwin and Amy Ruck, his mother dying from a fever on 11 September, four days after his birth. He was the first grandson of Charles and Emma Darwin (see Darwin — Wedgwood family), and was brought up by them at their home, Down House. His younger half-sister was the poet Frances Cornford. Darwin was educated at Eton College, and graduated in law from Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a Cambridge Blue in golf 1895-1897, and team captain in his final year. In 2005, Darwin was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, in the Lifetime Achievement category.