Charles Darwin (b. Feb 12, 1809 - d. Apr 19, 1882)

By MKerstetter

  • Voyage on the HMS Beagle (Dec 27, 1831 – Oct 2, 1836)

    Voyage on the HMS Beagle (Dec 27, 1831 – Oct 2, 1836)
    During these five years, Charles Darwin (1809-1882) sailed around the world, studied geology and biology texts, collected fossils, and observed species that looked similar yet had developed different variations. The most famous stops on his journey were in the Galapagos Islands near Ecuador. In this area, he observed diversity within animal species and he began to develop his theories about evolution.
    (Image Citation: Encyclopedia Britannica.)

  • Darwin Goes Public

    In 1853, evolutionary theory was discussed on a public platform after Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) published a joint paper to give an explanation to the diversification of species and theory of evolution through natural selection. The paper was published by the Journal of Linnean Society of London and it was read at a public forum on July 1, 1853 (World History Project).

  • Published "On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection"

    Darwin (1809-1882) explains his theory of biological evolution through natural selection and proposes that variations occur in an unsystematic way and their efficacy is tested by the organism in its environment (Godfrey-Smith 63). Therefore, Darwin concluded that “variations that help organisms to survive and reproduce, and which are of the kind that gets passed on in reproduction, tend to be preserved and become more common in the population over time” (Godfrey-Smith 63).

  • Published "The Descent of Man"

    Darwin (1809-1882) published his second published book "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex" to apply his evolutionary theories to human evolution and discusses psychology and sexual differences and selection (World History Project).
    For more information on the evolution of Darwin’s theories and those that influenced him, such as Wallace (1823-1913) and Charles Lyell (1797-1875) visit: Darwin and Natural Selection Crash Course

  • Works Cited (1/2)

    “Darwin and Natural Selection: Crash Course History of Science #22.” YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 1 October 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfsUz2O2jww. Encyclopedia Britannica. Darwin, Charles: HMS Beagle voyage. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beagle-ship.

  • Works Cited (2/2)

    Godfrey-Smith, Peter. Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. World History Project. The History of Us. https://worldhistoryproject.org/topics/charles-darwin. Accessed 22 May 2020.