HISTORY
Charles Robert Darwin, born in Shropshire, England, on February 12, 1809, came from a prominent family. His grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was a natural philosopher with early evolutionary ideas. Initially studying medicine at Edinburgh, Darwin shifted to natural sciences at Cambridge, where botanist John Henslow became his mentor.
In 1831, Darwin joined the HMS Beagle voyage, a transformative journey that fueled his ideas on species change. Influenced by Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology, Darwin collected specimens and observations, especially from the Galapagos Islands, leading him to question divine creation and consider species adaptation.
By 1838, Darwin had formulated his theory of natural selection, though he delayed publishing it for years. In 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace independently conceived the same theory, prompting Darwin to present his work jointly with Wallace. This led to the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859, which became a scientific sensation.
Darwin’s later works, including The Descent of Man (1871), explored human evolution and emotional expression. He continued publishing on natural selection’s effects until his death in 1882. Buried in Westminster Abbey, Darwin’s legacy reshaped biology, with evolution becoming a central tenet of the life sciences. Let me know if you’d like to fine-tune this summary further!
EARLY LIFE
Charles Darwin was the second son of Robert Waring Darwin and Susannah Wedgwood, with a distinguished family background. After his mother’s death when he was eight, Darwin was raised by his sisters and attended Shrewsbury School, where he disliked the rigid classical curriculum.
In 1825, he went to Edinburgh University to study medicine but found anatomy and surgery unbearable. Instead, he learned natural history, working with Robert Edmond Grant, a Lamarckian evolutionist, and gaining exposure to radical scientific ideas.
Seeing Darwin’s lack of interest in medicine, his father sent him to Christ’s College, Cambridge, in 1828 to prepare for a career in the church. There, he became close with botanist John Henslow and geologist Adam Sedgwick. Inspired by Alexander von Humboldt’s travel writings, Darwin eagerly accepted Henslow’s suggestion to join the HMS Beagle as a gentleman companion to Captain Robert FitzRoy.
The Beagle set sail on December 27, 1831, beginning the voyage that would transform Darwin’s understanding of the natural world. Let me know if you’d like to refine this further!
INTERESTING FACTS
- Charles Darwin co-developed his theory of evolution with Alfred Wallace.
- He dropped out of medical school due to his aversion to blood.
- In 1839, he married his cousin, Emma Wedgwood.
- He delayed publishing his theory for 20 years, fearing public reaction.
- Darwin studied and ate exotic animals.
- He appeared on the £10 note (2000-2018).
- He was both a scientist and a Christian.
- Born on February 12, 1809, the same day as Abraham Lincoln.
- He wrote a pros and cons list on marriage.
- He loved hiking.
- He played backgammon with his wife every evening.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection – Co-developed with Alfred Wallace, revolutionizing biology.
- Published On the Origin of Species (1859) – Laid the foundation for evolutionary biology.
- Voyage on HMS Beagle (1831-1836) – Collected data that led to his evolutionary theory.
- Introduced the Concept of Common Descent – Proposed that all species share a common ancestor.
- Studied and Classified Thousands of Species – Contributed to zoology, botany, and geology.
- Published The Descent of Man (1871) – Applied evolution to human origins.
- Developed the Theory of Sexual Selection – Explained traits like peacock feathers and deer antlers.
- Contributed to Earth Sciences – Studied coral reefs, geology, and fossils.
- Published The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) – Pioneered the study of emotions in humans and animals.
- Influenced Genetics and Modern Science – His ideas paved the way for later discoveries in genetics and biology.