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Birth & Early Childhood
Charles Darwin was born on February 12th, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. From a young age, Charles was an avid reader and enjoyed exploring woodlands near his home. American Museum of Natural History. “Charles Darwin’s Childhood and Life | American Museum of Natural History.” American Museum of Natural History, 2020, www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/young-naturalist. -
HMS Beagle Voyage
Darwin served as the naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle during its five-year voyage around the world. This expedition provided Darwin with extensive opportunities to observe and collect specimens of various organisms, including plants, animals, and fossils. These experiences and observations greatly influenced his later work. -
Origin of Species
Darwin's most famous work, "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection," was published in 1859. In this book, Darwin presented his theory of evolution by natural selection, proposing that species evolve over time through the process of natural selection acting on heritable traits. Here is a short video that briefly covers the basics of Darwin's theory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfsUz2O2jww -
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex
Darwin published another important work, "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex," in 1871. In this book, he applied the principles of natural selection to human evolution. Darwin's emphasis on natural processes as the driving force behind the development and diversity of species aligned with the growing trend toward naturalistic explanations in science. -
Honorary Doctorate
Darwin's theory of evolution revolutionized the scientific understanding of how species develop and change over time. His book, "On the Origin of Species," presented compelling evidence and arguments in favor of evolution, challenging prevailing religious and scientific beliefs of the time. This is why he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Cambridge to acknowledge his groundbreaking achievements in the field of biology and the philosophy of science. -
Death
Charles Darwin dies at the age of 73 on April 19th, 1882 in his home in the United Kingdom. He is buried at Westminster Abbey. “Home of Charles Darwin (down House).” English Heritage, www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/.