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Charles Darwin is Born
Charles Robert Darwin is born 02/12/1809 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. see below for a video outlining the importance and contributions of Charles Darwin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfsUz2O2jww -
University of Edinburgh
After primary school, Darwin began studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh. -
Christ's College, Cambridge
Due to an aversion to blood, Darwin was forced to leave medical school. He then joined Christ's College, Cambridge, to study for a general degree (which would possibly lead to a position as an Agelican Clergyman). Darwin graduated with a degree in general studies but had an affinity for collecting insects as well as Taxidermy. -
HMS Beagle
Charles Darwin is offered the opportunity to join the expedition of the HMS Beagle on it's journey throughout S. America. It is during this expedition that Darwin encounters various types of animals and insects, as well as their closely related but different relatives in neighboring areas. It is the similarities but also the region specific adaptations of different species that lead Charles Darwin toward his Theory of Evolution. -
Return of the Beagle
The HMS Beagle docked at Falmouth, London, completing it's 5 year journey. Charles Darwin returned with first hand knowledge and samples of flora and fauna from most of the continent of S. America and it's surrounding Islands. -
Darwin Marries
Darwin married Emma Wedgwood, his first cousin. They had 7 surviving children (3 died in childhood). Emma and the children were instrumental in data collection, communicating with the scientific community, and editing/illustrating Darwin's work. -
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
Twenty-Three years of continued study and research later, Charles Darwin publishes his master-work. He was pushed to do so when he received correspondence from a Welsh Biologist named Alfred Wallace, outlining the very same theory Darwin had been working on. This motivated Darwin to publish his ideas of transformism, or as we know it the Theory of Evolution, under the title "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection". -
Darwin publishes The Descent of Man
In The Descent of Man Darwin furthers his theories on natural selection. He explores three concepts:
1) Did man descend from an pre-existing species?
2) The manner of that change/adaptation
3) Racial Variation among humans His goal was to explain the similarities and differences in the human race, and their impact on sexual/natural selection. -
Death
Charles Robert Darwin died on April 19th, 1882. He was honored for his work as a Scientist and Philosopher by burial at Westminster Abbey.