Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin (Charles Robert Darwin) was born on February 12th, 1809. Charles passed away April 19th, 1882 at 73 years old. Charles Darwin was born in Mount House, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Darwin attended Christ's College, Cambridge where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree. Darwin also attended the University of Edinburgh.

Charles Darwin was a British biologist, geologist, and naturalist who is one of the most respected evolutionary biologists and has had the most influence in the field.

He initially intended to become a doctor, only to realize that he was more interested in natural history. Since he hated the sight of blood, he quit to pursue his interest in nature.

In 1831, he hopped aboard the British Royal Navy’s HMS Beagle as a naturalist on a trip to explore the coastline of South America. Even though much of the focus of the voyage was mapping, Darwin managed to collect a range of samples of animals and plants, which he brought back to England.

When he returned in 1836, Charles Darwin started his analysis of his specimens, and his work would influence the scientific understanding of paleontology and geology. Even more important, his study of the specimens is what led to the formulation of his natural selection theory.

The theory of natural selection proposes that those who are more likely to survive in an environment and reproduce usually have the traits best suited to that environment. When they reproduce, they pass those traits to their offspring, and over time, the adaptation results in the evolution of new species.

Charles Darwin died aged 73 in 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

In 1859, Darwin published his magnum opus in the title On The Origin of Species. It was in this work that he introduced his theory, which had at its basis natural selection.

In the book, he proposed that species undergo slow evolution as individuals with desirable traits survive and reproduce and thereafter pass those traits to their offspring.

Darwin drew from what he had observed on his trip to South America, where he had collected samples and studied species distribution and fossils. He challenged the belief that species were divinely created and fixed.

Charles Darwin’s The Various Contrivances by Which Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects is a work in which she explores how orchids make use of complex mechanisms to cross-pollinate via insect interaction.

Using his theory of natural selection, Darwin details how particular structures in the flowers of orchids have evolved to make it easier for the plants to be fertilized by insects, thus making them more genetically diverse.

Through experiments and observations, he demonstrates how the features are a result of evolutionary processes to improve reproductive success rather than being elements of design.

In 1872, Charles Darwin published the work The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, in which he looked into the evolutionary roots of emotional expressions in animals and humans.

According to Darwin, bodily gestures and facial expressions are inherited traits that many species share. Using photographs, questionnaires, and observations, he shows how emotions such as joy, anger, and fear are universal, thus indicating common descent among species.

Charles Darwin: Lists & Other Mentions

• The Origin of Species:
  1. Book Riot: 25 of the Best Nonfiction Books of All Time Selection in 2022.
  2. The Telegraph: The Perfect Library Selection in 2008.
• Voyage of the Beagle: National Geographic Adventure Magazine: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time Selection in 2004.

Related Authors

Fans of Charles Darwin also enjoy these authors:

1. George Orwell, author of: 1984.
2. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
3. J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings Series.
4. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
5. C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles Of Narnia Series.

Charles Darwin: F.A.Q