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Birth of Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin was born February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, UK to Dr. Robert and Susannah Darwin. Charles Darwin, is often referred to as one of the most influential, naturalist and scientific biologist in history. His work and book, On the Origin of Species, explains the theory of evolution by natural selection providing several supportive cases obtained from the Voyage of the HMS Beagle. See video on Darwin's Early Influences link text -
Charles Darwin
In October of 1825, at the age of sixteen, Darwin entered the University of Edinburgh to follow in his father’s and brother’s footsteps to study medicine. Edinburgh had the reputation of providing the best medical education in Britain, but Darwin did not enjoy his studies because he was unable to stand the sight of blood. However, it was at Edinburgh he met his lifelong friend, Professor Robert Grant, who taught zoology. Darwin did not graduate and left Edinburgh after two years. -
Charles Darwin
In 1828, at the age of 18, Darwin's father accepted that he would not follow in his footsteps and enrolled him into Cambridge University to study theology and become a clergyman. Two influential people in Darwin's life were met while at Cambridge, Reverend Professor John Henslow and Adam Sedgwick, Woodwardian Professor and Chair of Geology. Both encouraged Darwin to pursue his interest in natural science and geology. A bronze statue of Darwin was unveiled in 2009 at Cambridge. -
Charles Darwin's Voyage on the H.M.S Beagle
Darwin landed a position on the Voyage of the HMS Beagle as a resident naturalist due to an invitation from Professor John Henslow. Darwin's responsibilities aboard the Beagle was to observe, study and sample all natural things whenever the ship dropped anchor. The Voyage of the HMS Beagle was scheduled for 2 years, but lasted almost 5 years, arriving back into England on October 2, 1836 after. link text -
Charles Darwin and the Galapagos Islands
The HMS Beagle and Charles Darwin arrived on the Galapagos Islands September 15, 1835. Darwin was amazed by the geological volcanic cones on the Galapagos Islands along with the iguanas, crabs, birds, lizards, turtles and giant land tortoises which weighed more than eighty pounds. Darwin collected several samples of the different species while visiting the three islands, Chatham, Charles and the largest Albemarle Island. -
Darwin's Finches
One of the most well-known discoveries of the Galapagos Islands was referred to as Darwin’s Finches. Different species of birds with varied shapes and sizes of the head, eyes and beaks, even though they were collected from islands within very close proximity of each other. These birds, although nearly identical in all other ways to mainland finches, had different beaks which had adapted to the type of food available on the Galapagos Islands. Link text. -
Charles Darwin Society and Religion
The years following the voyage, Darwin attempted to reenter society by becoming involved in several science and geological groups, including; Geological Society, The Royal Geographical Society and the Zoological Society of London. On January 29. 1839, Darwin married his first cousin Emma Wedgwood. From this union came 10 children, three of which died at an early age. Darwin's religious beliefs were more inline with views of an atheists. However, he kept these beliefs hidden for many years. -
Charles Darwin - On the Origin of Speicies
Charles Darwin had been working on his manuscript about evolution for twenty years when he received a letter from Alfred R. Wallace in 1858 containing a short manuscript similar to Darwin's work. This forced Darwin to reveal his work on evolution and On the Origin of Species was published November 24, 1859. The release of On the Origin of Species and the idea of the theory of evolution by natural selection created a dispute between creationists and evolutions that continues yet today. -
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin continued to write about the theory of evolution and specifically human evolution with the release of additional manuscripts, Decent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871) and Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872). In these books, Darwin provides evidence to show that humans are all one species, and covered the subjects of sexual dimorphism, cultural racial chartists and evolution of the human culture. -
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin died on April 19, 1882, at the age of 73 years old. Darwin started writing his autobiography, Recollections of the Development of my Mind and Character for his family in 1876. The book was not published until 1887, five years after his death. Although there was debate over the process of evolution, evolution itself quickly became the cornerstone of biology that it is today. Link text -
Charles Darwin - Dates and Citations
Darwin, C. R. (1887) The life and letter of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter. London: John Murray. Retrieved from http://darwin-online.org.uk/
Clifford, P. (2009). The life and times of charles darwin. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 92, 373-383. Retrieved from https://search-proquest- com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/docview/859448247?accountid=8289
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