Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin[2†]

Charles Robert Darwin[1†][2†], born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, and died on April 19, 1882, in Downe, Kent[1†][2†], was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist[1†][2†]. He is widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology[1†][2†]. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now generally accepted and considered a fundamental concept in science[1†][2†].

Darwin’s scientific theory of evolution by natural selection became the foundation of modern evolutionary studies[1†]. This theory suggested that animals and humans shared a common ancestry, which initially shocked the religious Victorian society[1†]. However, his nonreligious biology appealed to the rising class of professional scientists, and by the time of his death, evolutionary imagery had spread through all of science, literature, and politics[1†].

Darwin, himself an agnostic, was accorded the ultimate British accolade of burial in Westminster Abbey, London[1†]. His work has deeply influenced modern Western society and thought[1†].

Early Years and Education

Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England[1†][3†]. He was the fifth child of Robert and Susannah Darwin[1†][3†]. His father was a successful doctor, and his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was a freethinking physician and poet who had a great influence on Charles’s later theories[1†][3†]. His mother, Susannah Wedgwood, the daughter of the famous pottery maker Josiah Wedgwood, died when Charles was eight, and his sisters then raised him[1†][3†].

Darwin’s educational journey began at the age of nine when he entered Shrewsbury School[1†][3†]. However, he was not a very good student[1†][4†]. In 1825, his father sent him to the University of Edinburgh to study medicine[1†][5†]. There, he was exposed to many of the dissenting ideas of the time, including those of Robert Edmond Grant, a former student of the French evolutionist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck[1†][5†]. However, Darwin soon realized that he was unable to even watch an operation being performed[1†][3†].

In 1828, he entered Christ’s College, Cambridge, England, with the initial intention of becoming a minister[1†][3†]. However, he soon gave up that idea but continued to study[1†][3†]. He attended John Stevens Henslow’s course in botany, started a collection of beetles that became famous, and read widely[1†][3†]. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1831[1†][6†].

Career Development and Achievements

Charles Darwin’s career began in earnest when he embarked on a voyage around the world aboard the HMS Beagle, which lasted from December 27, 1831, to October 2, 1836[7†]. During this voyage, Darwin spent most of his time on land studying plants, animals, fossils, and geological formations[7†]. His observations and work during the voyage established him as an eminent geologist[7†].

One of Darwin’s most significant achievements was solving the mystery of the formation of coral reefs and atolls[7†]. He theorized that the various types of coral reefs and atolls could be explained by uplift and subsidence of vast areas of the Earth’s crust under the oceans[7†]. His theory is now supported by modern investigations[7†]. Darwin published his theory in his 1842 monograph titled "The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs"[7†].

Darwin’s most notable accomplishment was formulating the theory of evolution by natural selection, which proposed that all species have descended from common ancestors through a process of gradual change over long periods of time[7†][1†][8†]. He formulated his bold theory in private in 1837–39, after returning from the voyage[7†][1†]. However, it was not until two decades later that he finally gave it full public expression in “On the Origin of Species” (1859), a book that has deeply influenced modern Western society and thought[7†][1†].

Darwin also produced a large number of works which affected a variety of fields[7†][9†]. His work changed the way humans view themselves and how the world works[7†][9†]. As a result, this led to new concepts and inventions that made many people’s lives much better[7†][9†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking work has left an indelible mark on the scientific world. Here are some of his most notable publications:

• On the Origin of Species (1859): This is perhaps Darwin’s most famous work, where he introduced his scientific theory of evolution by natural selection[1†]. The book was both popular and controversial, convincing many people that species change over time[1†][10†].
• The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871): In this work, Darwin applies evolutionary theory to human evolution, and details his theory of sexual selection[1†].
• The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication (1868): Here, Darwin looks at how species can change under conditions of domestication[1†][11†].
• The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species: In this work, Darwin investigates the adaptive significance of the two forms of flowers found in several plant species[1†].
• The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom: This book is a result of Darwin’s extensive experiments with plants and his investigations into the effects of cross and self-fertilization[1†].
• The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals: In this book, Darwin explores the animal origins of human characteristics, including the expression of emotions[1†].
• The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms: In this work, Darwin examines the effects of worms on soil formation and vegetation[1†].
• On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects: This book is a detailed study of orchid flowers and their complex adaptations for pollination[1†].

Each of these works contributed significantly to the field of evolutionary biology and helped shape our understanding of life on Earth[1†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Charles Darwin’s contributions to science have had a profound impact on the way we understand the world. His theory of evolution by natural selection challenged traditional beliefs and revolutionized the field of biology[12†]. It laid the groundwork for further scientific advancements and shaped the way people perceive the world around them[12†][13†].

Darwin’s ideas also had significant social impacts. They affected not only scientific thought but also social and political thought[12†][14†]. His work put into question man’s relationship with the natural world and challenged the understanding of what it meant to be human[12†][15†].

His theory that all life evolved from a common ancestor is now a cornerstone of modern science, making Darwin one of the most influential individuals in history[12†][6†]. His work has shaped the thinking of successive historical periods, much like other great minds such as Luther, Calvin, Locke, Leibniz, and Voltaire[12†].

However, it’s important to note that while Darwin’s theories are widely accepted today, they were controversial at the time. Many of his ideas stood in stark conflict with what was commonly assumed to be true. The acceptance of these ideas required an ideological revolution[12†].

In summary, Darwin’s work has had a profound influence on modern thought, shaping our understanding of biology, our place in the natural world, and even our social and political ideologies[12†][14†][13†].

Personal Life

Charles Darwin was born into a wealthy family in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England[2†]. He was the fifth of six children of Robert Darwin, a society doctor and financier, and Susannah Darwin (née Wedgwood)[2†]. His family was liberal in their politics and indifferent in their religion[2†][16†]. Darwin spent his childhood playing at The Mount, the Darwin home and estate in Shrewsbury[2†][16†]. He was schooled at home by his sister Caroline until he was eight years old[2†][16†].

In 1839, Darwin married Emma Wedgwood, a member of the prominent Wedgwood pottery family[2†]. They had ten children together[2†]. Darwin was known to be an affable country gentleman, and despite his revolutionary scientific theories that initially shocked the religious Victorian society, he was accorded the ultimate British accolade of burial in Westminster Abbey, London[2†][1†][2†].

Darwin’s personal correspondence with close colleagues provides a window into his motivations, beliefs, and fears[2†][17†]. Despite his significant contributions to science, Darwin remained an agnostic[2†][1†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection has become the foundation of modern biology[18†]. His work has significantly influenced our scientific understanding of the diversity of life on Earth[18†][6†]. Darwin’s theory suggested that species change slowly over time as a response to their environment[18†][6†]. This theory laid the groundwork for the development of modern biology[18†][6†].

Darwin’s theory declared that species survived through a process called “natural selection,” where those that successfully adapted or evolved to meet the changing requirements of their natural habitat thrived and reproduced, while those species that failed to evolve and reproduce died off[18†][19†]. His major contribution was to suggest a mechanism for evolution–natural selection–that did not depend on the intervention of a divine power[18†][20†].

Darwin’s theory, core features of which have withstood critical scrutiny from scientific and religious critics, constituted only the starting point for an endlessly rich set of research questions that continue to inspire present-day scientists[18†]. Biologists are still seeking experimental results that address how natural selection proceeds at the molecular level—and how it affects the development of new species[18†].

Darwin’s famed finches play a continuing role in providing answers. The scientist had assumed that evolution proceeded slowly, over “the lapse of ages,” a pace imperceptible to the short lifetime of human observers[18†]. Instead, the finches have turned into ideal research subjects for studying evolution in real time because they breed relatively rapidly, are isolated on different islands, and rarely migrate[18†].

In conclusion, Charles Darwin’s legacy is profound. His theory of evolution has shaped our understanding of the natural world, and his work continues to be a cornerstone of modern biology, influencing a wide range of scientific disciplines[18†][21†][6†][19†][20†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Charles Robert Darwin[1†]
• Born: February 12, 1809, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England[1†]
• Died: April 19, 1882, Downe, Kent[1†]
• Nationality: English[1†]
• Occupation: Naturalist, Geologist, Biologist[1†]
• Notable Works:"On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects"[1†], "Origin of Species"[1†], "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex"[1†], "The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species"[1†], "The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom"[1†], "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals"[1†], "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms"[1†], "The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication"[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Darwin’s scientific theory of evolution by natural selection became the foundation of modern evolutionary studies[1†]. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now generally accepted and considered a fundamental concept in science[1†].

References and Citations:

1. Britannica - Charles Darwin: British naturalist [website] - link
2. Wikipedia (English) - Charles Darwin [website] - link
3. Encyclopedia of World Biography - Charles Darwin Biography [website] - link
4. Britannica Kids - Charles Darwin [website] - link
5. Britannica - What was Charles Darwin’s educational background? [website] - link
6. Verywell Mind - Charles Darwin: Biography, Theories, Contributions [website] - link
7. Learnodo Newtonic - 10 Major Accomplishments of Charles Darwin [website] - link
8. Have Fun With History - 10 Charles Darwin Accomplishments [website] - link
9. EduBirdie - Biography And Achievements Of Charles Darwin [website] - link
10. National Geographic Education - Charles Darwin [website] - link
11. Britannica - Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection [website] - link
12. Scientific American - Darwin's Influence on Modern Thought [website] - link
13. 19th Century - The Profound Impact of Darwinism in the 19th Century: Shaping Science, Society, and Beyond [website] - link
14. Britannica - What were the social impacts of Charles Darwin’s work? [website] - link
15. University of Cambridge - How Darwin changed the world…of art [website] - link
16. SparkNotes - Charles Darwin Study Guide: Brief Overview [website] - link
17. The Guardian - The private life of Charles Darwin [website] - link
18. Scientific American - Darwin's Living Legacy--Evolutionary Theory 150 Years Later [website] - link
19. Biography - Charles Darwin [website] - link
20. SparkNotes - Charles Darwin Study Guide: Context [website] - link
21. Oxford Academic - Darwin’s Legacy: What Evolution Means Today - Conclusion [website] - link