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Birth
Charles Darwin was born on this day in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England in his family's home called The Mount. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin#/media/File:Charles_Darwin_1816.jpg -
Education
After being uninterested in his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, Darwin was sent to Christ's College in Cambridge by his father. Here is where he began his early interests in natural theology, philosophy, and biology. -
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Journey on the HMS Beagle
Darwin was invited to join a survey voyage on the HMS Beagle that was to chart the the coasts of South America in an intended 2 year journey. The voyage ended up being 5 years long, with Darwin collecting marine invertebrates for research and uncovering a fossil of a Megatherium, an extinct species of giant sloths, along the voyage. It was in this journey that he developed his connection between humans and animals. -
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Degrading Health Through Overwork
Darwin had been writing his personal journal and working on his book regarding his findings on the voyage of the HMS Beagle when he began to overwork himself. Through stress and pressure of getting his books out on time, Darwin had some minor heart complications and decided to go on holiday to visit his family in Staffordshire. Here he became familiar with his cousin and future wife, Emma Wedgwood. After having taken the role of Secretary of Geological Society, he fell ill once more. -
Geological Society of London
Upon Darwin's return from his voyage, he visited his family and received investments from his father to become a gentleman scientist, an independent scientist who doesn't directly work with a university or government. He shared his findings with his colleagues and his information about an earthquake he experienced and how it effected South America's geology to the Geological Society of London. Soon after, Darwin was elected to the Council of said Society. -
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Geology Writings and Natural Selection
Darwin began laying groundwork for his complete theory of natural selection over these years in the background of his main geological work. Darwin published a successful journal in 1839 regarding his findings on his voyage with the Beagle. He went on to publish another geological book in 1842 about the functions and structure of coral reefs, and then another in 1846 specifically regarding his geological observations in South America. -
Marriage to Emma Wedgwood
Upon much self-debate, Darwin decided he wanted to marry, with his cousin Emma Wedgwood already in mind. Although he realized marriage would take much of his time and money, he wanted a lifelong companion and remarked it would be better than a dog. Darwin was appreciative to have somebody to share all his thoughts with openly. The two went on to have ten children with two unfortunately passing in infancy, and another passing early in life at the young age of ten. -
On the Origin of Species
On this day Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life" was published. The publication of his works was met with unexpected popularity and was able to sell it's entire stock of over a thousand copies to booksellers. The book argued his theory of natural selection and set the basis for the theory of evolution, despite never specifically mentioning humanities role in his findings. -
Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex
After receiving reactions and opinions about On the Origin of Species, Darwin began working on his book specifically regarding the evolution of man and how sex plays into selection. The book delved deep on his theories regarding humans being animals that evolved from primates, and also stated that the reason for different races in humans is the same for differences in animals of the same species, which is known as sexual selection. This book became one of Darwin's most popular writings. -
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
This third major work of Darwin's regarding the evolutionary theory looked into why humans have certain expressive reactions to things and the aspects of emotional behavior. This book was also one of the first few books to use illustrated photographs. Although profits were expected to take a hit with the inclusion of said illustrations, the book was immensely popular like it's predecessors. -
Death
Darwin died in his home due to complications of the heart, and left behind his legacy of evolutionary discoveries. He was said to have welcomed death in his final days. Although requesting to be buried at a nearby church, he was honored with a burial in Westminster Abbey near other great minds such as Sir John Herschel and Sir Isaac Newton. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin#/media/File:1878_Darwin_photo_by_Leonard_from_Woodall_1884_-_cropped_grayed_partially_cleaned.jpg -
Remaining Picture Citations
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin#/media/File:Emma_Darwin.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin#/media/File:Editorial_cartoon_depicting_Charles_Darwin_as_an_ape_(1871).jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expression_of_the_Emotions_in_Man_and_Animals#/media/File:Expression_of_the_Emotions_in_Man_and_Animals_title_page.jpg
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