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Birth
Born in Shrewsbury, England, to Dr. Robert Waring Darwin and Sussanah Darwin. -
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Edinburgh
Charles father sent him to Edinburgh University to study medicine. While there, he witnessed surgery on a child that traumatized him so badly that he never returned to the operating theatre. During his second year Charles became acquanted with a group of young men who had a fondness for natural science. -
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Cambridge
When Charles's father realized he didn't have the stomach to become a doctor, Charles was sent to Cambridge to study Divinity and become a member of the Clergy. While at Cambridge, Charles was more interested in his Natural Science classes and spent more time learning Zoology and Geology. -
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Voyage of the 'Beagle"
After nearly being declined the position by Fitz-Roy on account of the shape of his nose, Charles was taken on as a Naturalist for the voyage. Charles credits this voyage as the most significant and vital experience in his life, having laid the foundations for his theory of evolution. Charles studied, recorded, and collected rocks and fossils found at each port. He also collected all kinds of animals, described them in his journal, and dissected marine life for study. -
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Normal Science
During this time, Charles poured through the journals he had written during the voyage, refining his ideas and organizing his thoughts before publishing several works, including his 'Journal of Travels,' 'Geological Surveys,' and 'Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle.' Charles also began writing his most significant work 'Origin of Species.' -
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Retirement
Charles continued his scientific works throughout his lifetime and took great joy from them. While in retirement, he published a piece on his observations of volcanic islands visited during the Beagle voyage, corrected an edition of his "Journal of Researches," wrote "Geological Observations on South America," and began work eight years of work on "Cirripedia,' (Barnacles). This work was useful in discussing the principles of natural classification in "Origin of Species." -
Origin of Species
Charles's work "On the Origin of Species" was published. This book culminated a life's work and shifted how natural scientists viewed the world, marking the beginning of the age of Darwinism that survives today. The book outlines Charles's theory of evolution by natural selection and inheritance. It claims that all life is related, explaining the diversity found among species as evolution and adaptation to the environment. Before this time, the 'permanence of species' was the accepted theory. -
Descent of Man
Charles published a work detailing his theory that humankind evolved from apes over an extended time, lasting thousands of years. Darwin placed species with similar characteristics into groups, with the great ape genius consisting of humans, chimps, gorillas, and orangutans. While scientific thinkers received this theory and his theory on the origin of species, both were met with outrage by members of the church. See a short video detailing the theory of evolution
https://youtu.be/w56u2gv8XLs -
Death
Charles is buried at Westminster Abbey, London. -
Works Cited
- Darwin, Charles. “Autobiography of Charles Darwin and Selected Letters; Edited by Francis Darwin.” HathiTrust, n.d., https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822013336862&view=1up&seq=7. - Lotzof, Kerry. “Charles Darwin: History's Most Famous Biologist.” Natural History Museum, n.d., https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/charles-darwin-most-famous-biologist.html.