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Birth
Charles Robert Darwin is born on 12 February at The Mount in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. -
Education
Darwin enrolls at Christ’s College, Cambridge University to study theology in preparation for life as a country parson. He is introduced to beetle collecting and becomes known as ‘the man who walks with Henslow’ through spending a lot of time with the professor of botany. -
Beagle
Darwin makes major natural history collections as he travels around South America as the ship’s naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle -
Galapagos
Darwin first considers the evolution of species while thinking about the variations among Galapagos mockingbirds, writing in his notebook ‘If there is the slightest foundation for these remarks the zoology of Archipelagoes will be well worth examining, for such facts (would) undermine the stability of Species’. -
Evolution Tree
1837 Darwin draws a simple evolutionary tree in one of his notebooks. -
Natural Selection
1838–1839 Darwin starts to develop his theory of natural selection. -
Publishes and Marries
Publishes The Journal of a Naturalist.
Marries His Cousin -
Further Publication
Publishes Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle. -
Publications
Charles Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species on 24 November, putting forward his theory of evolution by natural selection -
Research
Based on his belief in special creation, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce leads an attack on Darwin’s theory at
a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (today known as the BA), held at
Oxford University Museum. Two of England’s most influential scientists, Thomas Huxley and Joseph
Hooker, fiercely support Darwin’s work. Both sides claim victory. -
Death
Charles Darwin dies. His friend, neighbour and scientist John Lubbock MP secures his burial in
Westminster Abbey. Darwin’s funeral is attended by England’s leading politicians, scientists, and clergy.
