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Birth
Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, UK. His father was a wealthy physician. He had hopes that Charles would become a doctor when he grew up. Unfortunately, Charles couldn't stand the sight of blood. He did however, love nature and science. He would go on to attend schooling at Cambridge and advance his studies of Botany and Zoology. -
Voyage of HMS Beagle
Charles Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle as a naturalist on the recommendation of his mentor John Henslow. The survey trip was planned to take 5 years to travel around the world in order to collect data and create more accurate maps. It is on this trip that Darwin advanced his understanding of geology and even theorized on how atolls formed. More famously, this survey trip is when Darwin collected his research samples that would be used in his therory of evolution. -
Arriving in the Galapagos
Darwin spent 5 weeks in the Galapagos studying the different species of animals. While there, he noted how some species of birds where similar to, but different than the ones from nearby South America. He theorized that they must've come from the same ancestors, but some how changed over time. He took many samples while on the islands and had them shipped back to England for further study when he returned. -
Darwin publishes his book "On the Origin of Species"
Darwin spent the next few decades reviewing his samples and talking to fellow naturalist researchers. He came to the conclusion that all biological life originated from common ancestors that transmuted (evolved) over time. This was contradictory to current belief that animals were all created at some point exactly as they were.
Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882. On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. London :John Murray, 1859. -
Darwin releases his book "The Decent of Man"
Initially, in order to avoid backlash, Darwin left Homo-Sapiens out of his original book. However, He would later go on to release "The Decent of Man" which stated that we evolved from apes. This was met with great opposition and some even voiced that it should be banned.
Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man. London: Murray, 1871.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NFfSLlCawE -
Death
Darwin died in his family home at the age of 73. He died o fa heart failure. His health had significantly declined the last years of his life due to stress from over working. -
Citations
“Charles Darwin.” Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, August 28, 2019. https://www.biography.com/scientist/charles-darwin. “Home.” Famous Scientists. Accessed January 24, 2021. https://www.famousscientists.org/charles-darwin/. National Geographic Society. “Charles Darwin.” National Geographic Society, August 22, 2019. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/charles-darwin/.
