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Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin grew up challenging the status quo, he was a radical democrat during his school years and always sought a materialistic and inductive viewpoint of the word, versus the established norms of religious truths and values. He loved being out in the natural world, and spent time traveling in nature, particularly the Galapagos Islands. -
Surveying Voyage
In 1831, Darwin began a five year voyage to foreign lands to collect geological samples, and study natural history. He read John Herschel's book, Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831), and Alexander von Humboldt's Personal Narrative of scientific travels in 1799–1804 during the trip, whilst also taking a great deal of notes. This journey, as well as his reading, gave him a great passion to contribute to science. -
Speculation on Evolution
Darwin began speculating, based off of the variety of fossilized samples he collected, that perhaps species change into others over time, and thus began to the lead up to his master work. -
Evolutionary Research
Darwin was now able to operate with a guiding thesis in his research, which included selective breeding of plants and animals in order to bring about differences or adaptations, as well as searching for ancestors between different species. He did this work for 15 years. -
On The Origin of Species
Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, perhaps represents the single greatest individual epiphany in human history, rivaled perhaps only by Isaac Newton's Laws. Charles Darwin changed the field of biology with his work. -
Further Learning
Evolution is fascinating! Learn more here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOfRN0KihOU -
Citations
John van Wyhe, editor. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
Browne, E. Janet (1995). Charles Darwin: vol. 1 Voyaging. London: Jonathan Cape
Darwin, Charles (1868). The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication
Darwin, Charles (2006). "Journal". In van Wyhe, John (ed.). Darwin's personal 'Journal' (1809–1881)
Herbert, Sandra (1980). "The red notebook of Charles Darwin". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)