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Birth
Charles Robert Darwin was born on the 12th of February in 1809. Darwin's father, Robert Darwin, had the largest medical practice outside of London. His mother, Susannah Wedgwood, came from a family of prosperous pottery manufactures. Unfortunately, Darwin's mother passed away when he was 8 years old. -
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The Life of Charles Darwin
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Attended the University of Edinburgh
At the age of 16, Darwin began attending the University of Edinburgh as a medical student. -
Left the University of Edinburgh
After two years of medical school, Darwin left the University of Edinburgh. Throughout his two years of attendance, Darwin had little interest in the medical field. Though his time spent at the University of Edinburgh did not meet his fathers expectations, Darwin did expand his knowledge of natural history under the teachings of Robert Grant. -
Attended the Christ's College in Cambridge
With a career in medicine now out of the question, Darwin's father sent Darwin to the Christ's College in Cambridge to pursue a degree in an "ordinary field". During Darwin's time at Christ's College, he was taken under the wing of the naturalist John Henslow. -
Graduating from Christ's College
In 1831, Darwins graduated from Christ's College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. -
Joining the H.M.S. Beagle
Following his graduation Darwin's mentor, John Henslow, recommend Darwin to join the British Navy for a mapping expedition. During his 5 year voyage with the crew of the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin only 18 months at sea, and the rest was spent land exploring. It was also during this time that Darwin spent 5 weeks visiting the Galápagos Islands. -
Darwin's Homecoming
After Darwin's return to England, he began to submit his finding to the "Journal of Researches". The trip had an enormous impact on Darwin's view of natural history. -
Marriage
Darwin marries his first cousin Emma Wedgwood. -
On the Origin of Species
Darwin publishes a detailed explanation of his theory. Darwin's finding's eventually caused a paradigm shift in the way the world views naturalism. -
Natural Selection
Darwin began describing this process as "survival of the fittest". Below is a link to a video that covers Darwin's "natural selection" in-depth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfsUz2O2jww -
Death of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin passed away in his family home. -
Citations
Biography.com Editors. “Charles Darwin.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 29 Mar. 2021, www.biography.com/scientist/charles-darwin. O'Neil, Dennis. “Darwin and Natural Selection.” Early Theories of Evolution: Darwin and Natural Selection, 2013, www2.palomar.edu/anthro/evolve/evolve_2.htm.