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Charles Robert Darwin 12 Feb 1809 - 19 Apr 1882
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Birth
Charles Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He was the second youngest out of six children. His family was wealthy. His grandfather, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, was a renowned botanist, and his father, Dr. R. W. Darwin, was a medical doctor. -
Early Childhood
He spent his early years in a house called The Mount in Shrewsbury that his father had built. He enjoyed exploring nature, in particular beetles. He was a sociable child and it was easy for him to make friends.
During this time he was mostly educated by his sister and spent one year at a day school in Shrewsbury. At the age of 8, he started attending the boarding school about a mile away from The Mount. He was not very interested in school and was a mediocre student. -
Susannah Darwin's Death
In 1817, the mother of Charles Darwin started to develop gastrointestinal symptoms. It is assumed that she had a severe ulcer or possibly stomach cancer. -
Education
In October 1825, Charles Darwin and his brother Erasmus enrolled at the University of Edinburgh. His father wanted him to become a medical Doctor but Darwin was not fond of the medical field and left the school.
In 1827 he enrolled at Christ College in Cambridge to become a Priest. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1831 -
HMS Beagle
Darwin received an invitation to join the HMS Beagle as a naturalist. The expedition lasted nearly five years. He filled dozens of notebooks with his observations surveying South America and the world. He, later on, considered this voyage to be by far the most important event of his life. -
Observations...on the coast of Chile
Darwin experienced his first earthquake in 1834 in Chile. He wrote his first scientific paper based on this experience. -
The Voyage of the Beagle
Darwin publishes his journal he wrote during his voyage on the MHS Beagle in May of 1839 -
Marriage
On 29 January 1839, Darwin married his cousin Emma Wedgwood. They had 10 children together and stayed married until his death. -
Last book
Darwin finishes his last book about his voyage with the MHS Beagle. Geological Observations on South America. -
Election
Darwin became a member of the Royal Society's Philosophical Club, and the Linnean Society. -
The origin of species
During years of research and studying birds, plants, and fossils, Darwin noticed a correlation between amid species around the globe. This leads him to believe that they evolved from common ancestors. In 1858 he first introduced his theory at a meeting of the Linnean Society.
On 24 November 1859, he published his book "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" -
Copley Medal
Darwin was awarded the Copley medal of the Royal Society in 1864. It is easy to see that Charles Darwin had an exciting life. He was privileged to grow up in a house of scholars and free thinkers. He traveled the world and explored everything around him with a child-like curiosity. He kept detailed journals, telling a story of his journeys and the things he saw, which he then used for his research. -
Doctorate
Darwin received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Cambridge University. His attention to detail is what lead him to see an evolution in species before he could confirm it with his research. Although, the theory of evolution was not his only contribution to science it is the one known most. -
Death
Darwin died in his home at the age of 73. He had suffered from gastrointestinal issues and vertigo for months leading up to his death. Lastly, he died of congestive heart failure.
Some of his last words spoken to his wife were: “I am not the least afraid of death. Remember what a good wife you have been to me. Tell all my children to remember how good they have been to me.” His greatest contribution to Philosophy of Science was his open mind and his curiosity.
