Charles Darwin (medical student)

Charles Darwin

Name	Charles Darwin
Birth name
Birth date	(1809-02-12)February 12, 1809
Birth place	Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
Death date	April 19, 1882(1882-04-19) (aged 73)
Death place	Down House, Downe, Kent, England
Alma mater
Occupation
Years active
Organization
Known for	Theory of Evolution, Natural Selection
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. His proposition that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors is now widely accepted and considered a fundamental concept in science.

Early Life and Education

Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, into a wealthy and well-connected family. His father, Robert Darwin, was a doctor, and his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was a renowned physician and intellectual.

Darwin initially studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School, one of the premier medical schools of the time. However, he found the lectures dull and the surgery distressing, leading him to neglect his medical studies. Instead, he became more interested in natural history and spent much of his time exploring the countryside and collecting specimens.

Transition to Natural History

While at Edinburgh, Darwin joined the Plinian Society, a student natural history group, where he was exposed to radical scientific ideas. He also studied marine invertebrates with the guidance of Robert Edmond Grant, a proponent of Lamarckism.

In 1827, Darwin's father sent him to Christ's College, Cambridge, to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree, with the intention of him becoming a clergyman. At Cambridge, Darwin became friends with botanist John Stevens Henslow, who encouraged his interest in natural science.

The Voyage of the Beagle

In 1831, Henslow recommended Darwin for a position as a naturalist on the HMS Beagle, a survey ship preparing for a voyage around the world. The voyage lasted from 1831 to 1836 and provided Darwin with a wealth of observations and specimens that would form the basis of his later work.

During the voyage, Darwin collected numerous specimens and made detailed observations of the geology and biology of the regions he visited, including the Galápagos Islands. These observations were crucial in the development of his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Development of the Theory of Evolution

Upon returning to England, Darwin began to develop his ideas on evolution. He was influenced by the work of Thomas Malthus, whose essay on population growth led Darwin to consider the "struggle for existence" in nature.

In 1859, Darwin published "On the Origin of Species", which presented his evidence and arguments for evolution by natural selection. The book was a scientific bestseller and sparked widespread debate and discussion.

Legacy

Darwin's work laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology. His theory of natural selection provided a unifying explanation for the diversity of life on Earth and has been supported by a vast body of evidence from various scientific disciplines.

Also see

• Evolutionary biology
• Natural selection
• HMS Beagle
• Galápagos Islands
• Robert Darwin
• Erasmus Darwin