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The Early Life of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin is born in Shrewsbury, England on 12 February 1809 to a wealthy family who had a history of members who practiced Medicine. At the age of 16 years old, he was enrolled to the University of Edinburgh by his father to study Medicine. He had little interest in studying to become a Doctor, which displeased his father because Darwin preferred to study natural history (Biography.com). -
Charles Darwin joins the Plinian Society
Charles Darwin joins the Plinian Society at The University of Edinburgh. This is significant because this society was a group of freethinking naturalists. This is also where he meets his most influential mentor, Dr. Robert Grant, who is credited as the first person who introduces the theory of evolution to Darwin. It is in the Plinean Society where he wrote his first scientific paper on bryozoans and presented it to the society (The University of Edinburgh). -
Sets sail on HMS Beagle
A voyage that took place around the world and a timespan of 5 years is when Charles Darwin would conduct majority of his research and work that would be fundamental in the publishing of his most famous book, On the Origin of Species in years to follow. "On the voyage he observed and collected plants, animals, rocks and fossils" (The University of Edinburgh). -
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection is published
Charles Darwin causes an uproar with religion when this book is published due to the term "natural selection". "With Darwin's discovery of natural selection, the origin and adaptations of organisms were brought into the realm of science" (Ayala). This book does not discuss the evolution of humans. -
The Descent of Man & Selection In Relation to Sex is published
This book focuses on the evolution of humans and sexual selection. The media makes fun of Darwin by creating images of him depicted as an ape (The Conversation) because Darwin claimed that man and ape had a common ancestor. "Invariably, perhaps, its publication caused a fresh wave of outrage, criticism, and debate" (Kindt & Latty). -
The Death of Charles Darwin
After a lifetime of conducting research and publishing his findings, Charles Darwin dies in his home, in London, on 19 April 1882. He was buried with honors by the Royal Society in Westminster Abbey at the request of his colleagues after public and parliamentary partitioning (Wikipedia). "Darwin's greatest contribution to science was he had completed the Copernican Revolution by explaining nature as a system of matter in motion governed by natural laws" (Ayala).
