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Charles Darwin
An English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. His theorized that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors. In a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace, he introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding. -
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HMS Beagle Voyage
Charles Darwin collected specimens from different areas of the world after the voyage, he was able to study and later publish a book on the theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species. Darwin also made detailed scientific field journal covering biology, geology, and anthropology that demonstrated Darwin's keen powers of observation. -
The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs
Charles Darwin's first monograph which laid out his theory on the formations of coral reefs and atolls. The book was the first volume of three Darwin wrote about the geology he had investigated during the voyage, and was recognized as a major scientific work that presented his deductions from the available observations on this subject. He conceived of the idea during the voyage of the Beagle while still in South America, before he had seen a coral island, completing his draft by November 1835. -
On the Origin of Species 1859
Charles Darwin, in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, Darwin introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. The book presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution. Darwin included evidence that he had collected on the HMS Beagle voyage and his subsequent findings from research, correspondence, and experimentation. -
The Descent of Man
Darwin's second great book on evolutionary theory. He applies evolutionary theory to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection. The book discusses many related issues, including evolutionary psychology, evolutionary ethics, differences between human races, differences between sexes, the superiority of men to women, and the relevance of the evolutionary theory to society. This book was published in two volumes and received little to no backlash unlike Origin of Species. -
Death
Darwin passes away from Chagas's disease. He was given a state funeral and buried in Westminster Abbey. -
Timeline Resources
Brown, Tyson. "Charles Darwin." National Geographic Society. Tyson Brown, 22 Aug. 2019. Web. 28 June 2021. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/charles-darwin/#:~:text=British%20naturalist%20Charles%20Darwin%20is,two%20corresponded%20on%20the%20topic.&text=Charles%20Darwin%20was%20born%20in%201809%20in%20Shrewsbury%2C%20England.. -
Timeline Resources
Desmond, Adrian J. "Charles Darwin." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 July 1999. Web. 28 June 2021. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin.