“Darwin  was popular at college, where his fellows regarded him always as a ‘coming man.’  He was a member of the Natural History Society and the Institute of 1770, and Treasurer and Orator of the Hasty Pudding Club.

Always imbued with the courage of his convictions, it was remembered of him, that at his initiation into one of the chief of the College Societies, ‘at a point where, to a venerable usage, the novice is required by and awful voice, to ” Swear.!”  Ware obstinately refused to swear’ and, after an ineffectual struggle with him, the unheard of variation of afirming him had to be resorted to.’  He and Mr. Bradlaugh of non-juring memory would assuredly have shaken hands!

Ware was among the Sophomore recipients of a Detur, and took the First Boylston Prize for Elocution, in 1850 and the First Prize for Dissertation, in 1852.  He has a part in the Exhibitions of October, 1850, and October, 1851, and delivered an English Oration at Commencement; graduating fifth in the Class, he was of course, in Phi Beta Kappa.”

Reference Data:

Annuals of the Harvard Class of 1852, by Grace Williamson Edes, 1922, page 197