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Charles Darwin - In the beginning
On February 12, 1809, Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England. Being one of the world’s most well-known biologists, he actually initially wanted to go to school to be a physician but decided not to continue that career path when he realized he couldn’t handle the sight of blood. All his life he was interested in the sciences but had first started out going to school for medicine because that is where his father had sent him. -
HMS Beagle Voyage
At 22 years old, in 1831, Charles Darwin began his voyage on the HMS Beagle as the crew’s only naturalist. On this trip it was up to Darwin to make observations and to collect different specimens of animals, plants, rocks and fossils on whatever piece of land that they had arrived at. This voyage lasted 3 years and he loved making these observations that had later become published. After he had returned to England, his name had become extremely well known. https://youtu.be/urSNtaQKOAk -
Introducing the Theory of Evolution
Darwin had researched his theory of evolution for years until he decided to introduce this idea to the public. This explanation of his work was published in his book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,” on November 24,1859. This theory held the belief that all life shares one common ancestor and that evolution over time is due to natural selection in which species genetic mutations adapt in aid to their survival. After years of this process a whole new organism is formed. -
Darwin's Legacy
After an incredibly successful and fulfilling life as a biologist/ naturalist, Charles Darwin’s life ended in the comfort of his home on April 19, 1882, in London. Although it took many years for the public to accept the idea of natural selection, the results of Darwin’s work was revolutionary and is still taught today. The theory of evolution was controversial, especially in Darwin’s lifetime, but his dedication to his work prevailed in the end.
