Paul Johnson's DARWIN Portrait Of A Genius

Have you ever wondered about why Charles Darwin was so important? Charles Darwin was an amazing scientist. Born February 12, 1809. He grew up in a small town in Shrewsbury, England with six other siblings. He was the second youngest. His father was a doctor and was hoping that he would do the same when he got older, but it wasn’t for him. So he was always a risk-taker because even though his dad would’ve been mad he still went for his own way studying nature. He went to Christ's college in Cambridge and graduated from there. Darwin was always interested in nature, so when he went on a voyage. This tells us about how Darwin was always been interested by nature.

Darwin, an English geologist and naturalist from the 1800’s, is best known for his contributions to science and mainly his theory of evolution. He was the first scientist to develop a believable theory of evolution by

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was a British naturalist who became famous for his theories in evolution. He believed all species evolved form a common ancestor and that evolution happened through a process called natural selection, which meant survival of the fittest. In the BNW, the different castes of people were made from a common ancestor (a single individual). Thus, creating hundreds of his or her clones. Since the directors believed in survival of the fittest, they made the best kind of people so that they may live long in a specific environment.

Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury England. He was the second youngest of six children. He was the son of Dr. R.W Darwin, and Susanna Darwin. He was a young boy what his mother died. When he was a little older he went to college to study medicine, but ended up becoming a biologist. When he was out of collage he stumbled across a job on the HMS Beagle. A relatively small ship, only 24 feet wide at its widest point. While on the HMS Beagle he visited the Galapagos, and while he was there he noticed a slight variation between each of the finches on each island. Darwin realized that the finches variations could be a result of Natural Selection witch is the theory that plants adapt to changes in there environment. At the time the church ruled an Darwin seemed to challenge there ideas, but

However, his passion for natural science never swayed. It was this intricate fascination that brought Charles about meeting Professor John Stevens Henslow. Henslow was a specialist in botany. Overtime Henslow and Charles became quite close friends. In the article titled: “Charles Darwin: man behind monkey” author Christine Dao further explained the following events after the fact that Charles and Henslow became close friends. Henslow had the opportunity to accompany Captain Robert Fitzroy to the Americas as a naturalist. He extended this opportunity to the “novice” naturalists Charles. Dao’s article states, “Henslow proposed that Darwin take his place on the HMS Beagle journey to the Americas as an unpaid naturalist and gentleman companion to Captain Robert Fitzroy. Darwin was almost a complete novice, his experience based only on rudimentary geological studies, beetle-collecting, and the dissection of marine

Charles Darwin once wrote “I am not apt to follow blindly the lead of other men,” a bold

“A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life”, (Charles Darwin). Darwin meant that our lives are meant to be spent doing the things we want to do and what would better ourselves. Darwin spent his life doing what he wanted to do rather than what others would have approved of. Charles Darwin was an important and influential figure in history that had a positive impact on the world because he had introduced many important ideas of evolution to the world that challenged its current rules of life.

His dad was a medical doctor. Charles mom died when he was only eight years old. His grandfather was an honored scientist as well. Charles Darwin lived a wealthy childhood and loved to explore nature. His dad want he to become a scientist but Charles did not like the site of blood.

Charles Darwin, born in Shrewsbury, England, was known for his studies around the world that led to the discovery of evolution. His views on “natural selection” were very broad and justified. He is known as a naturalist and the world to form biological change. Natural selection is when living organisms adapt to the environment they live in to try and live longer.

Early in both of their careers, Darwin and Owen were associates in aiding in each other’s research and had even attended the same university, but this cooperation would not last when in 1859, Darwin’s controversial manuscript was published. Owen was not convinced of his promising colleague’s theory or some now say that perhaps he was jealous. In fact, he was appalled by evolutions later implications of man being a mere relative of an ape. Because of Owen’s position as curator of the Natural History Museums and substantial scientist of his day, Owen’s ridicule had devastating consequences for Darwin. Charles Darwin became literally a joke among much of the scientific community causing his life for himself and his family to become difficult.

minds in the field of evolution was a man named Charles Darwin. Darwin was not

63) And finally we get to Charles Darwin himself. As a young man from an elite and wealthy family, Charles's possible career choices were limited: there weren't many professions "respectable" enough. He started off studying medicine but couldn't stand to see blood. Charles earned a degree in theology, but his real interest, which he pursued outside the classroom, was natural studies. For three years as an undergraduate he "...mixed with some of the leading scientists of his day, at a level far more intimate than would be possible for an undergraduate today." (Ruse, p. 33)

After his voyage on the Beagle, while he was attempting to get his findings in a museum, “Darwin was challenged to get his findings in a museum, so he organized his records and presented a paper to the Royal Geological Society” (Greenberger 24). Darwin had to change his ways and spend time to attempt to get his findings shown to the general public. Also faced with the problems of limited space in the museum, he had to work extra hard to get his findings shared. Getting his ideas shared also

His father rejected the scheme on the following grounds: It would be disreputable to his character as a Clergyman, it was a wild scheme, and they must have offered many people before him. (White and Gribben 49). Darwin was desperate to win his father’s approval knowing that it would be his only chance to make this once in a lifetime voyage. There was no way that Charles could afford this pricey expedition. He saw no hope until his best friend Jos Wedgewood, whom Dr. Darwin respected greatly, helped Charles compose a letter to his father pointing out the pluses of the voyage. Soon thereafter, Robert gave his approval.

     After school Darwin became naturalist on board the royal navy ship the Beagle. The Beagle left England on December 27, 1831 this was a small ship with a crew of 74, Darwin had a small laboratory and a hammock to sleep on, he suffered bad seasickness. Darwin’s job aboard the Beagle allowed him to study on many different continents. He