A strong advocate of social reform, workers’ education and an early form of Christian Socialism he became a close friend of Charles Darwin and supported the theory of evolution even when the Anglican Church was vehemently opposed.  When studying in Helston Grammar School, the Headmaster was Derwent Coleridge, the son of the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and their friendship gave him further literary connections.  Kingsley’s brother, Herbert, was regarded as a tearaway. 

He stole and sold a silver spoon before running away and spending a night in the open.  It was claimed that this brought on rheumatism which, combined with heart disease, killed him at the age of thirteen.  There have, however, been suggestions that Herbert drowned at Loe Pool, rumours which are apparently reinforced by the absence of his name on his gravestone in Helston which is simply adorned with his initials and dates.