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Birth
Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England. Darwin was born into a family of wealth and was the second youngest of six children. His mother died when he was eight and his father was a medical doctor. -
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College
Darwin attended the University of Edinburgh then transferred to Christ's College in Cambridge where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. -
HMS Beagle
HMS Beagle started its voyage with Charles Darwin onboard. The trip was 5 years long and was tasked with surveying around the world. Darwin was able to observe botany, geology and zoology. He collected a variety of specimens including birds, plants and fossils. Most notably, Darwin studied finches and their beaks. He noticed that they were changing as new offspring of finches were born. -
Journal of Researches
Darwin wrote his findings from the Pacific Islands and Galapagos Archipelago and they were published in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle which was Captain FitzRoy's narrative. The trip had a huge effect of Darwin's views and he developed a theory of evolution of living beings. Darwin was the first to explain natural selection and his theory was popular as well as controversial around the world. -
Origin of Species
Darwin published his explanation of the theory of evolution in 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'. This theory was known as Darwinism and was against religious beliefs of being created by God. Darwin, Charles, and Leonard Kebler. On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or, The preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life . London: J. Murray, 1859. -
The Descent of Man
Darwin published 'The Descent of Man' in which he explained that humans are animals and that humans are descendants of apes. This was highly opposed during his life time but is widely accepted by many today. Darwin, Charles, Leonard Kebler, and Joseph Meredith Toner Collection. The Descent of Man,: And Selection in Relation to Sex . London: J. Murray, 1871 -
Death
Darwin died at age 73 in London. He was buried at Westminster Abbey. Below is a short clip on his life and findings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NFfSLlCawE