Charles Darwin was a British scientist who is well known for formulating the theory of evolution. A naturalist and geologist, he sought to explain the similarities he observed in diverse species appearing around the world.
Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species, published in 1859, was the first to put forth a compelling scientific argument that similar species are actually related to one another, but differentiated by specific needs for survival in their local environment.
Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, in 1809. His father was a doctor and financier with substantial wealth at his disposal. When Charles’ mother died in 1817, he was sent to a private boarding school with his brother. At age 16 he worked as an assistant to his father, providing medical care to local residents as an apprentice doctor. He then entered the University of Edinburgh Medical School in the fall of 1825.
Darwin struggled with medical school, and his interests shifted to natural history, anatomy, and botany. His father was frustrated with Charles’ lack of focus and sent him to Christ’s College to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree instead. Charles continued to neglect his studies but his personal interests drove him to study entomology, natural philosophy, and geology.
After completing his studies, Darwin secured a position as naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle. Departing in December, 1831, the Beagle was scheduled for a two-year voyage around the world, which ended up taking five years. As naturalist, Darwin collected biological specimens and studied the geology of the lands they visited. He took careful notes and cataloged his collections for future study. It was during the Beagle’s visit to the isolated Galapagos Islands that the first inklings of evolutionary theory took hold in his thoughts.
Upon returning to England in 1836, Darwin assembled a team of scientists to analyze his collection, with financial support from his father. He quickly became a prominent scientist and published numerous books and papers covering the voyage, including the species he studied and geological phenomena he observed. Still, it took another 20 years of work before he formally presented his theories of natural selection and common descent.
On the Origin of Species was remarkably well received and Darwin’s theory became popular in the scientific community and society at large. His work challenged the creationist views of the religious majority and Darwin anticipated it would be controversial; instead, his theory was rather quickly adopted by scientists and instigated much discussion among his colleagues.
Darwin continued his work and published several other volumes, most notably The Descent of Man, published in 1871, which laid out the specific implications of his theory with respect to humankind. Again, although he expected controversy, the book became quite popular and Darwin was surprised at the humility displayed in such broad acceptance of his work.
Charles Darwin died of heart failure in April of 1882. Thousands of people attended his funeral, and he was honored by the Royal Society of London with burial in Westminster Abbey.
Decades after his death, scientists continued to investigate and challenge his ideas, yet none have found a more sound and comprehensive theory than Darwin’s. Although controversy around his theories can still be heard in certain circles today, Charles Darwin retains the credit for much of our modern knowledge of the natural world.