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Birth of Charles Darwin
Charles Darin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
(Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Removal from School
Charles Darwin's father wanted Charles to be a physician, however, he was unsuccessful in Shrewsbury School. He was removed 2 years early in 1825. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Edinburgh University
After being taken out of Shrewsbury School he, along with his brother, was placed in Edinburgh University to study medicine. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
A Walk Through Wales
In the summer of 1826 Darwin took a walking trip through Walkes to look at birds. Not as targets, but as nature. Returning to Edinburgh after that summer he had no interest in studying medicine. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Plinian Society
During his stent at Edinburgh, he joined the Plinian Society. A Society comprised of members that were against the teachings of anatomy. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Leaving Edinburgh
Darwin loathed medicine, so he withdrew from Edinburgh University in April of 1827, to return home. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Cambridge University
After dropping out of Edinburgh, Darwin's father chose a clerical career path for Charles. Though Cambridge was a school teaching Christianity, Darwin vowed to never do anything he didn't believe in. He entered the school in January 1828. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Reverend John Henslow
Darwin had a conversation with Henslow at a Friday night party on campus. After this conversation, he was inspired to make a name for himself in Natural History. He attended Henslow's biology class in 1829, 1830, and 1831. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
The Beagle
After returning home from Cambridge Darwin found a letter addressed to him. It was from his mentor, Henslow. It offered him a two-year passage on a ship with plans to sail around the world. The entire idea was for Darwin to sail on The Beagle and annotate anything worthy of being noted for Natural History. He would later say that the voyage "determined my whole career." (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) -
Syms Covington
As captain of The Beagle, FitzRoy allowed Darwin to employ one of his cabin boys as a personal assistant. Darwin chose Sys Covington, and he stayed with Darwin until 1839.
(Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Geological Society
Darwin returned from his voyage, living in Cambridge while working on his manuscript. While there he became a council member of the Geological Society, he also became the vice president of the Entomological Society. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
'B' Notebook
Darwin started his first journal on transmutation, he gave it the name 'B'. He wrote in secret over the course of two years. His thought was if life adapted to its surroundings than humans are no better than any other life. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
'C','D', and 'E' Notebooks
In 1838 Darwin filled 3 more notebooks on transmutation. His goal was to explain evolution from a morality standpoint. He first saw an ape in the London Zoo on 28 March 1838. He studied her expressions and behaviors and found that it was all culture related. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Journal and Remarks, 1832–1836
Darwin published his journal he kept while onboard The Beagle.
(Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Sketch of Darwin's Evolution Theory
After the birth of his 2nd child, Darwin started his draft of his evolution theory. It was a mere 35 pages but contained his idea nonetheless. He completed it in June of 1842. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Death of a Father
Darwin's stomach problems had continued to grow worse and worse. He was constantly receiving medical advice from his father. However, after his father's death, Darwin's health deteriorated exponentially. He feared death so much that he couldn't get to his father's funeral on time. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Royal Medal
Also known as the Queen's Medal or the King's Medal. Darwin was awarded this medal for his work entitled Geological Observations on Coral Reefs, Volcanic Islands, and on South America, and his work, Fossil Circhipeda of Great Britain, Section Lepadidae, Monograph of the Circhipeda. (Royal Society, 2020)
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dsunM9ukGLgaW3HdG9cvJ_QKd7pWjGI0qi_fCb1ROD4/pubhtml?gid=1640032608&single=true] -
The Barnacle Volumes
While living in Kent, England Darwin continued his research. Only instead of the human species, he wrote books on barnacles he found while aboard The Beagle. In late 1854 he finally finished them.
(Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Natural Selection Begins
In May of 1856 Darwin starts his largest book. Comprised of everything he has researched and learned over the course of his life. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Wollaston Medal
The highest award given to a recipeient from the Geological Society of London [https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/About/awards-grants-and-bursaries/society-awards/wollaston-medal] -
The Origin of Species
After multiple years and several hundred-thousand words, Darwin completed his book about natural selection. He also wrote a 'short' version consisting of 155,000 words. He later called the book "one long argument." (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Copley Medal
An award given by the Royal Society for outstanding research in any branch of science. Charles Darwin was given this award for his important researches in geology, zoology, and botanical physiology. (Royal Society, 2020) [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dsunM9ukGLgaW3HdG9cvJ_QKd7pWjGI0qi_fCb1ROD4/pubhtml?gid=1336391689&single=true] -
Bedridden
Starting in April of 1865 Darwin's health continued to deteriorate. It got so bad he was bedridden for 8 months. He had bouts of vomiting, extensive nausea, indigestion, headaches, and random fainting spells. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Final Years
In his final years, Darwin spent most of his time investing. Now, very wealthy, he invested roughly half of his annual income, around 8,000 pounds. He invested heavily in the London Zoo, where he saw his first ape. (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
Honorary Degree from Cambridge University
Darwin was awarded his LL.D. ("Teacher of the Laws") degree from Cambridge University in 1877. (Mr. Darwin at Cambridge. Nature 17, 64 (1877)) -
Death of Charles Darwin
Darwin died at age 73 in Kent, England (Adrian Desmond, James Moore, and Janet Browne, 28 May 2015) [https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-7176;jsessionid=B8687C11E8070360821C07DCA7294B76] -
FRS Medal
An award was given by the judges of the Royal Society of London. The Darwin Medal is awarded for work of acknowledged distinction in evolution, population biology, organismal biology, and biological diversity. (Royal Society, 2020)
[https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/awards/darwin-medal/]
