Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin, born on February 12, 1809, revolutionized the field of biology with his theory of evolution through natural selection.

In 1817, Charles Darwin's mother passed away, leading his three older sisters to take on maternal responsibilities.

On June 17, 1825, Charles Darwin was taken away early from Shrewsbury School by his father. He then matriculates at the University of Edinburgh with his brother Erasmus, registering for medical courses.

On November 10, 1826, Charles Darwin is elected to the Plinian Society after meeting Dr. Robert Grant, a naturalist and Lamarckian, and examining marine animals.

HMS Beagle, the ship that Charles Darwin sailed on, embarked on a voyage in 1831 that would later lead to Darwin's development of the theory of evolution. The ship's voyages played a crucial role in Darwin's research and observations.

After being proposed by Henslow and funded by his family, Charles Darwin embarked on the HMS Beagle expedition to chart the coastline of South America. The voyage lasted almost five years, during which Darwin made significant geological and natural history observations.

In January 1832, Charles Darwin makes his first landing on a tropical shore at St Jago, Cape Verde Islands. This marks the beginning of his field notebooks being used during his exploration.

During his visit to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin made significant observations and collected specimens that later contributed to his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Charles Darwin explores the Galapagos Islands from September 15 to 23, 1835, a pivotal moment in the development of his evolutionary ideas.

In October 1836, Darwin met Charles Lyell and Richard Owen in London. Lyell introduced him to Owen, who worked on Darwin's fossil collections. Owen's findings on extinct species further influenced Darwin's evolutionary theories.

In January 4, 1837, Charles Darwin presents his initial scientific paper titled 'Observations...on the coast of Chile' at the Geological Society in London.

After experiencing health issues, Darwin visited his relatives at Maer Hall, Staffordshire. His uncle's observation of earthworm activity inspired Darwin to develop a new and important theory on their role in soil formation. He presented this theory at the Geological Society on 1 November 1837.

Darwin read the sixth edition of Malthus's An Essay on the Principle of Population in London. He noted Malthus's assertion about human population growth and its impact on food supply, leading to the concept of a Malthusian catastrophe.

On January 24, 1839, Darwin was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This recognition highlighted his contributions to science and research.

On January 29, 1839, Charles Darwin marries his first cousin Emma Wedgwood, with whom he has ten children.

In 1840, Charles Darwin was elected to the Council of the Royal Geographical Society, showcasing his contributions to the field of geography.

Darwin's book on atoll formation was published in May 1842 after more than three years of work. This work also included his first 'pencil sketch' of his theory of natural selection.

In 1846, Charles Darwin completed his last book which detailed his observations on the geology of South America during his voyage on the HMS Beagle.

In 1853, The Royal Society awarded Charles Darwin their Royal Medal in recognition of his groundbreaking work on barnacles.

In 1854, Charles Darwin was elected to the Royal Society's Philosophical Club and the Linnean Society, acknowledging his significant contributions to science.

On 14 May 1856, Darwin started writing a paper on natural selection. This marked the beginning of his efforts to publish his ideas on species change.

In September 1857, Charles Darwin sent a detailed outline of his ideas, including an abstract of Natural Selection, to the American botanist Asa Gray. The outline omitted human origins and sexual selection.

On 18 June 1858, Charles Darwin received a paper from Alfred Russel Wallace describing natural selection. Darwin was shocked to have been 'forestalled' and sent it to Lyell as requested by Wallace.

Darwin and Wallace's work on natural selection was presented to the Linnaean Society of London in a joint presentation. Selections from Darwin's Essay of 1844 and a letter from 1857, along with Wallace's 1858 essay, were read to the audience.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was influenced by the concept of pre-established harmony between nature and human ideas, as proposed by David Hume. This theory revolutionized the understanding of the origin and development of species through natural selection.

Charles Darwin's groundbreaking book, On the Origin of Species, is published. Its impact extends beyond the realm of science, influencing business and society on a larger scale.

On 22 November 1859, Charles Darwin's book 'On the Origin of Species' was published. The entire stock of 1,250 copies was oversubscribed when it went on sale to booksellers.

On November 24, 1859, Charles Darwin publishes 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection', a groundbreaking work on evolution.

In 1861, Charles Darwin continued working on his Variation book and published the 3rd edition of his famous work 'Origin of Species'. He also began working on a book about orchids.

In 1865, Darwin was intrigued by his half-cousin Francis Galton's argument that human traits could be inherited through statistical analysis of heredity, leading to the field of study known as eugenics.

In 1866, Charles Darwin was awarded the prestigious Copley Medal by the Royal Society, after being nominated for three consecutive years. The omission of his work 'Origin of Species' from the award sparked debates.

In February and March 1871, Charles Darwin publishes 'The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex', focusing on human evolution.

In November 1872, Charles Darwin publishes 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals', exploring facial expressions and emotions.

In July 1875, Charles Darwin publishes 'Insectivorous Plants', delving into the fascinating world of plants that digest food like animals.

In 1876, Charles Darwin initiated the writing of an autobiographical memoir for his descendants. He also published 'The Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom'. During this time, his first grandchild was born to his son Francis, who later moved in with Darwin after his wife's tragic death.

Cambridge University confers an honorary doctorate of law upon Darwin in recognition of his contributions to science and evolutionary theory.

On May 1, 1881, Charles Darwin's final book 'The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Actions of Worms' is published, focusing on the role of worms in soil formation.

On April 19, 1882, Charles Darwin passed away in Downe, Kent, England. He was laid to rest at Westminster Abbey, marking the end of a significant era in evolutionary biology.

Despite his expectation to be buried in St Mary's churchyard at Downe, Charles Darwin was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey, close to John Herschel and Isaac Newton. The funeral, held on April 26, was attended by numerous people from various fields.

After Darwin's death in 1883, Francis Galton named the field of study 'eugenics' based on the theories of heredity and inheritance, which were later used to promote eugenic policies.

The Darwin Correspondence Project is a scholarly endeavor that aims to collect, research, and publish all known letters written by or to Charles Darwin. It provides valuable insights into Darwin's life, work, and relationships.