Charles Darwin's life Feb 12, 1809 - Apr 19, 1882

By MichaelJBrown

  • Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle

    Charles Darwin was well known as a naturalist which is defined as the study of organisms living in the environment. When HMS Beagle Captain Robert FitzRoy approached Charles Darwin to accompany him as a companion, the naturalist accepted the opportunity. During his voyage, which began on December 27, 1831, Darwin studied various types of plants, animals, and geological formations. He made numerous discoveries one of which was the finding of massive fossils of long-extinct creatures.

  • Publication of "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection"

    Darwin’s book, On the Origin of Species, was published on November 24, 1859. Darwin explained how species evolved through natural selection. He discussed how this process led to the development of various species. The non-technical nature of the book allowed Darwin to connect with a wider audience. It sparked philosophical and scientific debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOk_0mUT_JU

  • Publication of "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex"

    In his book, Darwin explained how sexual selection can lead to the development of certain physical traits in animals. It also introduced the concept of conspicuous physical traits. In sexual selection, members of the same sex contend with one another to be a sexual partner of the other sex. This process leads to the development of certain characteristics such as the peacock feather.

  • Darwin built the concept of "Natural Selection"

    During his voyage, Darwin noticed differences in the species based on their environment. In September 1838, he read an essay by economist Thomas Malthus, which explained how population increases as food production rises. After learning about the concept of population explosions, Darwin conceptualized a process called natural selection. This procedure involved selecting beneficial traits for the species to avoid becoming unfit.