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Born
Charles Robert Darwin was born to Doctor Robert and Susannah Darwin in Shrewsbury, England. At the age of 8, His mother passed away, leaving his 4 siblings and him in the care of their father. Young Darwin was not considered a good student (Desmond, 2018). Considered a naturalist, Darwin's father sent him to Medical school where he was then transferred into Christ's College in Cambridge.
Picture Credit: (“Schrewsbury.” Schrewsbury for Groups, Shrewbury, www.shrewsburyforgroups.com/.) -
The Voyage of The Beagle: Journal and Remarks
Darwin set sail around the southern tip of South America aboard the HMS Beagle as a companion of the captain from December 1831 to October 1836. He observed wildlife and natives and collected sea life, bones, skulls, fossils, and carcasses. All of his accounts and illustrations were documented in his "770 paged-diary, 1,750 pages of notes, and... 12 catalogs of his 5,436 skins, bones and carcasses" (Desmond, 2018). Leading to his first contribution to evolutionary biology. -
Natural Selection
Darwin continued to document observations and studies he performed over the course of 1836-1842. He observed distinct changes between finches between islands and the bones he collected during his voyage on the Beagle. His focus was what causes those differences and extinctions. From this information, Darwin developed his theory of Natural Selection, annotating this in 35 pages in 1842. He did not publish his theories yet, and requested his wife publish following his death (Desmond, 2018) -
First Public Reveal
Darwin eventually invested himself in geology in hopes to solidify his credentials while silently continuing his studies on natural selection. In 1856, Darwin began writing a three volume book, to which he called "Natural Selection." As a new scientist came out with similar theories of natural selection, the pressure was on Darwin. In 1858, both Wallace's and Darwin's excerpts on natural selection went public. Darwin would miss this event due to death of his son. (Desmond, 2018) -
On The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection
One of his most prevalent contributions to evolutionary biology was branching evolution: The idea of evolution originating from a single origin. The book most known by Darwin, also referred to as
"The Preservation of Favoured Races In The Struggle of Life," was finally published in 1859. The book was chastised and ridiculed by scholars. Darwin relied heavily on his mentors and colleagues to fend the fight for him. Through sickness, Darwin developed six editions to this work. (Desmond, 2018) -
Period: to
Survival of The Fittest
Darwin developed several works, citing theories like inheritance from tissues passing pieces to offspring, cross-pollinating species survive time better than non, and outbreeding versus inbreeding. These works are titled: Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication, The Various Contrivances by which British and Foreign Orchids are Fertilised by Insects, The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom, The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species -
THE DESCENT OF MAN, AND SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX
A book to finally explain the evolutionary process of man from monkey was published in a two volume edition. -
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
Following great debate on his book and the idea of natural selection and "survival of the fittest," Darwin developed another piece of work. In this he outlined the similarities between orangutan and human facial expressions to debunk the common belief that human expression is divinely made. (Desmond, 2018) -
The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms
Darwin's final piece of work regarding natural selection and the effects of environment on evolution, published in 1881. In this work, Darwin reflected on his own mortality while suffering from angina, expressing his desire to join the worms for which he wrote. (Desmond, 2018). -
Death
Darwin died of a heart attack following months of health issues, including seizures, in Downe. Darwin enjoyed the thought of "joining the worms" (Desmund, 2018). He was later laid to rest in Westminster Abbey with "full ecclesiastical pomp" (Desmund, 2018) on April 26th. -
Video
The following video sums up the work of Darwin and Natural Selection:
Natural Selection -
Resources
Clearly Stated. “What Is Natural Selection?” YouTube, YouTube, 14 May 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCjhI86grU. Desmond, Adrian J. “Charles Darwin.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin#ref225881 Mayr, Ernst. “Darwin's Influence on Modern Thought.” Scientific American, 24 Nov. 2009, www.scientificamerican.com/article/darwins-influence-on-modern-thought/. The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images -
Resources Continued
Wright, Bryan. “Human Evolution?” Flickr, Yahoo!, 7 Oct. 2008, www.flickr.com/photos/spidermandragon5/2922128673/in/photolist-9mxGAB-5XUycC-5sdF3R-7bJehV-7bN345-7bJf44-7bJffg-7bN3Sd-8a8C4M-8aisFQ-8aiskE-6zSv4M-7h4s5a-8abQVW-7h4kBZ-7h4s4T-8a8FTr-8a9bKr-8afcnv-8acbkA-8a8Z3e-8a8rPv-5ZtTK8-8ab8ff-8a8vM6-8abQrJ-7bJeBB-8afgC4-8a8n6Z-cybzCE-8a95F8-8abvj3-9ciMY-8aiwoU-8afhAK-8a7ZuF-8afiiT-8af4sT-aL4pEt-8acd9b-8afgX8-8aiurW-8afdeZ-8aeVwT-8ackCQ-9ciLA-8af6XM-8a9sRk-8a7V5i-9ciKC.
