Charles Darwin was a British scientist who laid the foundation of modern evolutionary theory with his concept of the development of all forms of life through the slow-working process of natural selection. His work was of major influence on the life and earth sciences and on modern thought in general.
Darwin was born in 1809 in Shrewsbury, a small market town in Shropshire, England. His wealthy physician father was the son of Erasmus Darwin who had written Laws of Organic Life. His mother was the daughter of artisan Josiah Wedgwood of dinnerware fame. Though she died when he was eight, Darwin enjoyed a happy and secure childhood loved and encouraged by four adoring sisters, an older brother named Erasmus, a team of faithful servants, and
…show more content…
In his geological observations, Darwin was most impressed with the effect that natural forces had on shaping Earth’s surface. Darwin sailed from Plymouth on the Beagle four months later. Scheduled to be completed in two years, the voyage lasted for five. During that time, he wrote meticulous notes and sent them to the Geological Society in London, along with geologic and biologic specimens. A love of adventure surfaced whenever Darwin went ashore, but he also worked intensely. The years he spent exploring the South American continent and the offshore islands of the Galapagos honed his skills as a collector, observer and theorist.
Aboard the Beagle he read Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology, a book arguing that the face of the earth had changed gradually over long periods of time through the continuing, cumulative effects of local disasters such as eruptions, earthquakes, and erosion. Darwin's own observations convinced him of the accuracy of Lyell's views and established the basis for his revolutionary work on human evolution. The isolation of the voyage, combined with exposure to new elements, taught Darwin to think for himself. He developed a dedication to careful fact-gathering as well as an ability to theorize about these facts. Significantly, his geological ponderings pushed him to search for more universal laws.
Henslow had been reading letters
Darwin was the British naturalist who became famous for his theories of evolution and natural selection. Like several scientists before him, Darwin believed all the life on earth evolved over millions of years from a few common ancestors. From 1831 to 1836 Darwin served as naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle on a British science expedition around the world. In South America Darwin found fossils of extinct animals that were similar to modern species. On the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean he noticed many variations among plants and animals of the same general type as those in South America. The expedition visited places around the world, and Darwin studied plants and animals everywhere he went, collecting specimens for further study.
Charles Darwin began his scientific breakthroughs and upcoming theories when he began an expedition trip to the Galapagos Islands of South America. While studying there, he discovered that each island had its own type of plant and animal species. Although these plants and animals were similar in appearance, they had other characteristics that made them differ from one another and seem to not appear as similar. Darwin questioned why these plants and animals were on these islands and why they are different in ways.
According to his autobiography, Charles Darwin came into the world on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England to Robert and Susannah Darwin. When Darwin was eight
One part of charles Darwin's legacy is how he changed the way people look at the world. Before his theory many people thought Animals were set in stone, but he changed how many people looked at the world (Biography.com editors). Next he caused a disagreement between the church and scientist. He made this disagreement because he challenged their view of how the world was made. Charles Darwin also helped contribute to other sciences, such as paleontology (Komor). He helped people understand how species survived and changed over time (Komor). He also helped them understand how the world came to be how it is today (Komor). Charles darwin made the groundwork for many scientific theories that have shaped the
Previously, he had been inspired by Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology, which stated “present conditions and processes are clues to Earth’s past history.” While on the Beagle’s journey, Darwin sent home a total of 1,529 species that had been maintained in spirit as well as 3,907 desiccated specimens with labels (Biography Online). A breakthrough in Darwin’s studies was when he noticed certain forms of organisms subsist in particular areas, as well as that a wide variety of organisms had previously gone through changes that enabled them to stay alive in their particular environment (Notable Biographies). For instance, he studied the Finch in the Galapagos Islands and noticed that there are over twelve different forms of this one bird. These bird’s beaks were different sizes and shapes, depending on what food was available in their particular area. The animals on the Galapagos Islands showed many similarities to other animals in other parts of the world (Biography Online). Between the discovery of the different Finches along with the similarities of animals from other locations, he began to wonder if there was something more to earth’s history. These observations would later lead him to his theory
Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury England on February 12, 1809. Charles grew up very wealthy. His dad was a doctor and his mom did pottery. When he went to school he first studied medicine and then switched to natural history. He later got a degree in theology and meet a mentor of his, J. S. Henslow. In school he studied the work of a theologian named William Paley.
Charles Darwin was Born on February 2, 1809, in Shrewsbury New England. Charles grew up in a house his father built when he got married to Susannah. Charles was born into a large family with four older siblings. Charles Darwin had three sisters, whose names are: Marianne, Caroline, and Susan. Charles Darwin also had an older brother named Erasmus. Charles was quiet but he still had no trouble making friends. Charles’ parents were Dr. Robert Darwin and Susannah Darwin. Charles’ mother died when he was only eight years old on July 15, 1817. Susannah died of stomach cancer. After her death Dr. Robert became depressed. Because of his depression, Dr. Robert spent much more time working.Because of him working more he left the house to be run by
Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 at the Mount House, Shrewsbury. Charles Darwin was known as a British naturalist even from a young age because of his interest in the animal species. His father was a doctor and his mother died when he was 8 years old. Charles had one brother and four sisters and he was the second youngest of six children. His grandfather was called Dr. Erasmus Darwin. According to Biography Online, ”He was born into a wealthy and influential family.” Up to the age of 8 Charles was taught by an older sister. This means he had nothing to worry about because he had his family to look at his back.
Charles Darwin is a “great thinker”, but what is it that made him a “great thinker”? It was his hard work as a scientist that allowed him to come up with ideas that changed society. Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. He died on April 19, 1882 in Downe United KIngdom. Charles was most known as a naturalist and developing the concept of evolution and ‘natural selection. His most famous voyage started in 1831, when he sailed on a five year voyage on the HMS Beagle. He sailed around the world studying living organism in various areas. All of these areas provided Charles Darwin with research that he later developed into the concept of evolution. He collected data from a variety of plants animals, and fossils.
Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist who was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12, 1809. He was the second youngest of six children. Before Charles Darwin, there were many scientists throughout his family. His father, Dr. Robert Darwin, was a medical doctor, and his grandfather, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, was a well-known botanist. Darwin’s mother, Susannah Darwin, died when he was only eight years old. Darwin was a child that came from wealth and privilege and who loved to explore nature. In October 1825 at age sixteen, Darwin enrolled at Edinburgh University with his brother Erasmus. Two years later, Charles became a student at Christ’s College in Cambridge. His father wanted him to become a medical doctor, as he was, but since
Charles Darwin is a well-known English naturalist. He is one of the most significant scientists that have changed how we view our world today. Darwin come from a family of doctors, it was expected from him to fallow the family tradition and become a doctor, however Darwin had a strong interest in nature. On 1831, Darwin had the opportunity to begin his journey where he traveled around the world with HMS Beagle for five years. Over the course of his trip, Darwin collected a variety of natural specimens, including birds, fossils and plants. His collection helped him to put all law of nature in to one theorem that explained evolution. In Darwin’s September 5th1857 letter he explained how species had been able to evolve over long period of time,
Charles Darwin received an exhilarating invitation to be a part of the HMS Beagle for a trip around the world. And on December 27, 1831, Charles Darwin set sail for the purpose of exploring the exotic animal world along the coast of South America because of the fascination it brought to him. Darwin embarked on this journey with high ambition and his mind set on collecting specimens for the study of geology and natural history.
Charles Darwin believed that all living things come from a common ancestor. For example, Humans and Monkeys have a common ancestor. Charles Darwin studied finches and mockingbirds. He found out about evolution and how it is a population that changes over time. An example he learned is the finch. He found out that there are different beaks for the different finches. An example of an finch is the woodpecker finch which had a longer beak because it had to get the insect inside the tree and has a better chance of survival because it goes high into the trees to get away from the predators.. Which is different than the vegetarian finch had a curved finch for taking berries from a branch and had a less chance of survival because the predators
Charles Darwin was a man who shaped the way in which we think about evolution in modern times. He brought forth and described the theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest. To fully understand modern evolutionary thoughts it is necessary for one to completely understand the early theories of Charles Darwin. In this paper I will provide the reader with a complete background on Charles Darwin, describe his voyage on the HMS Beagle, and discuss his theory of natural selection.
Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury England at about the same hour as Abraham Lincoln. He was born to a successful family, his father was a doctor and his grandfather was a famous biologist. Darwin was not a great student and he decided to become a clergy so he transferred to Cambridge University. Instead of becoming cleargy Darwin decided to study geology.