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Not Your Typical Darwin
Charles Darwin was born to renowned physician, Dr. Robert Darwin and Susannah Darwin. Dr. Darwin hoped that his son would follow in his and his father, Dr. Erasmus Darwin's footsteps by becoming a medical doctor, but, the man who would later be known as the Father of Evolution was less interested in medicine, and more interested in insects; specifically Beetles. (Darwin's Early Life) -
Scholastic Endeavors
Darwin studied medicine at Edinburgh University in 1825 until he realized that he could not watch surgeries being performed and detested the sight of blood. (Charles Darwin Biography) Darwin later began his studies at Cambridge University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1831 and a large collection of Beetles that would later serve as the catalyst for his contributions to science. (Darwin and Natural Selection: Crash Course History of Science #22 2018) -
Set Sail for Science
After graduating from college, Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle with his beetle collection in tow and an expansive library at his disposal. While at sea, Darwin read Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology (Evolution: Library: Charles Lyell: Principles of Geology) and was so intrigued by Lyell's work, developed a hypothesis of his own: do the concepts Lyell discussed apply to living creatures in the same way that they do the Earth's surface? (McNamara, 2020) -
Compare and Contrast
Although Darwin collected fossils from all over the world, he became fascinated by his findings in the Galapagos Islands, specifically their varieties of Finches. (McNamara, 2020) The citizens of the islands explained to Darwin that the birds varied from island to island, giving rise to Darwin's idea of natural selection. (Charles Darwin, 2021) -
Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle
In 1838, Darwin published Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle. The five-volume series detailed Darwin's theory of natural selection and the role it played in the evolutionary process and provided readers with detailed images, explanations, and findings to support his theory. (Darwin, 1840) His concept was simple: creatures' features adapt over time to ensure survival. Useful features prevail, while non-useful features fade or the species becomes extinct. (Darwin, 1840) -
Science and Theory Come Together
Scientists and philosophers began to discuss Darwin's theory of natural selection. For the first time, a simple concept was presented that answered the age-old question of how creatures change over time and was done in a way that was intended to lay the groundwork for future research. -
Friends in Science
Fellow naturalists began conducting their own research and studies supporting Darwin's theory of evolution by way of natural selection. It was later established that the Finches Darwin had studied in the Galapose were not variations of a single species of Finch as he believed. Instead, they were independent species altogether! Darwin's publication continued to encourage collaborative efforts in the name of science to tackle a common question. -
Natural Selection
After the HMS Beagle returned to land in 1859, Darwin established his theory of Natural Selection based on his findings while sailing the isles. (Natural Selection, 2022) Darwin ascertained that natural selection was the mechanism that helped creatures adapt to their ever-changing environment. Darwin said, "as the "principle by which each slight variation [of a trait], if useful, is preserved". (Darwin, 1958) -
On the Origin of Species
After years of refining his theory and establishing a family, Darwin published On the Origin of Species. This landmark publication was written with a broad audience in mind to share his theories with the world. (DinoAnimals.com, 2021) In On the Origin of Species, Darwin not only published evidence to support his theory, but also candidly shared holes in his research that he could not fill, lingering questions regarding evolution and recommendations for future research. (Darwin, 1958)
