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The Birth of a Scientist
Charles Darwin was born in 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. His life had only started yet the idea of him becoming a doctor was already brewing in his father's mind. His father, earned his medical degree from Edinburgh University in Scotland, and hoped his son would follow in his steps. Charles had other plans, and decided he was more interested in natural history. -
Act Natural
Darwin enrolled in the University of Edinburgh's medical school along with his brother, Erasmus. It was during this time Charles became extremely uninterested in medicine. He found the lectures to be boring, and hated the sight of blood. After his first year, he returned to Edinburgh University and joined the Plinian Society, a student-led natural history group. -
Tough Love
When Darwin's father found out about his neglect of medical studies, he decided to send him to Christ's College in Cambridge to study to become an Anglican country parson. Darwin was unqualified for the college Tripos, and enrolled in the ordinary degree course. It was here Darwin was introduced to entomology, botany, and Theology. He befriended a botany professor, John Stevens Henslow, and became of close follower of him. -
Anchors Aweigh!
On the 29th of August, 1831, Darwin found a letter from Henslow proposing that he board the HMS Beagle as a naturalist. Henslow described that the position required a gentleman, rather than a collector. Darwin agreed to board, and the ship left in December of 1831. Charles spent most of the time ashore, surveying plants, animals, rocks, and fossils. -
Homecoming
When Darwin returned to England in 1836, he hit the ground running. What he discovered on his journey led him to question how life evolves and changes over time. This led to his famous theory of natural selection. He theorized that species are more likely to survive when they inherit traits from their parents that are environment specific. In 1859, Darwin published his theory in "On the Origin of Species". It was highly controversial, but extremely convincing. -
Death of a Brilliant Mind
In 1882, Darwin was diagnosed with coronary thrombosis, a disease of the heart. He died at his home on April 19, 1882. His final words to his family were "I am not the least afraid of death—Remember what a good wife you have been to me—Tell all my children to remember how good they have been to me". While Darwin may be gone, his ideas and theories more than live on. -
Sources (cont'd.)
Darwin, Emma (1882). "Reminiscences of Charles Darwin's last years.http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=side&itemID=CUL-DAR210.9&pageseq=16 National Geographic Society. “Charles Darwin.” National Geographic Society, 23 Aug. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/charles-darwin/. Desmond, Adrian J. “Charles Darwin | Biography & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 6 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Darwin. -
Short Video
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Sources
Pictures:
https://gizmodo.com/new-theory-suggests-charles-darwin-suffered-from-lyme-d-1831547281
https://answersingenesis.org/charles-darwin/racism/the-true-origin-of-the-species/
https://www.thoughtco.com/charles-darwin-and-his-voyage-1773836
https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/charles-darwin
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/charles-darwin/images/12951067/title/charles-darwin-photo