About Charles Darwin
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-82), English naturalist and originator of the theory of evolution known as Darwinism, born in Shrewsbury. He was the grandson of Erasmus Darwin and of Josiah Wedgwood. Charles Darwin studied at Edinburgh University, but took the degree of B.A. at Christ Church College, Cambridge, in 1831. He served as naturalist on the government exploring expedition that circumnavigated the world on the Beagle from 1831 to 1836. On this voyage he made many important observations which were the basis of Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle (edited by Charles Darwin and published by the government, 1840-43) and of his own works, The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs (1842), Volcanic Islands (1844), and Geological Observations (1846).
Charles Darwin had long been working on a theory of evolution which he was ready to publish when he received from his friend, A.R. Wallace, then in the East Indies, a manuscript setting forth substantially the same theory. He was at first disposed to withhold his own paper, and give precedence to Wallace, but on the advice of friends both papers were read at the same meeting of the Linnean Society of London and published together in their Transactions for 1858. Charles Darwin developed his theory into a book, The Origin of Species (1859), which created a wide and profound sensation, since the work was viewed as conflicting with the prevailing interpretation of the Scriptures. In The Descent of Man (1871), Charles Darwin added to the controversy by advancing the theory that men and apes were descended from a common anthropoid ancestor.
Charles Darwin’s other writings are supplemental to his works on evolution, and are largely based on the material gathered in the preparation of his great theory. |
