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Charles Darwin
Short Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0B6os-6uuc Citation:
Desmond, Adrian J. "Charles Darwin British Naturalist."
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin/Introduction -
Studies at Edinburgh Universtiy
At the age of 16, Charles Darwin was sent by his father to study medicine at Edinburgh University. During his time at Edinburgh University, he wasn't very interested in learning about medicine, however, he enjoyed chemistry lectures and was a part of a club for students interested in natural history. He spent two years studying at Edinburgh. He was introduced to more "freethinkers" throughout his time, and heard them speak of things that in other universities were censored and "frowned upon". -
Studies at Cambridge
His father believed the church was a better calling for him and switched him from Edinburgh to Christ's College, Cambridge to study religion. Cambridge was a much different environment than Edinburgh was. At Cambridge, he indulged his other hobbies and passions: drinking, shooting, and beetle collecting. Even though doing all of this, he was able to graduate 10th in the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1831. He learned a more conservative side of botany while studying here. -
Voyage on the HMS Beagle
Darwin was suggested by one of his teachers, Rev. John Stevens Henslow, from Cambridge to take a voyage to Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America. During his voyage, he was able to leave the ship for extended periods to pursue his interests as a gentleman naturalist. All together, he spent only 18 months of the 5 year voyage on-board the ship. -
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Developing his theory
Throughout this time, Darwin spent many years "leading two lives." He continued developing and refining his theory in secret, since most of the world would not have accepted his theory and would have labelled it blasphemous, or even, heresy. Though as time progressed society became more open to ideas as radical as Darwin's. Also, throughout this time he confided in his wife and a few friends who later presented, and even defended against criticism, his theory. -
Darwin's Theory of "Natural Selection"
Darwin's theory was first presented at the Linnean Society by Charles Lyell and Joseph Dalton Hooker. He allowed them to publicly present his theory along side an English socialist, Alfred Russel Wallace, after receiving a letter from Wallace about a similar theory. He unfortunately had to miss the presentation due to sickness and grieving the loss of his youngest son.