Charles Darwin (1809-1882) |
Charles Darwin, a naturalist, developed the theory of natural selection. He was born in Shrewsbury, England on Feb. 12, 1809. His father was also a naturalist and a physician. His mother died when he was eight. Darwin was the first of the evolutionary biologists . At age sixteen, Darwin left Shrewsbury to study medicine at University of Edinbourgh . However, he could not continue in the studies because the sight of surgery performed without anesthesia repelled him. Eventually, Darwin attended Cambridge University to study to become a clergyman. After he graduated, he went on a five-year scientific expedition to the pacific coast of South America on the H.M.S. Beagle from 1831 - 1836. On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 describing evolution and natural selection and giving a theoretical explanation for the diversity among living and fossil beings. His book was not well received among the general population who felt threatened at the notion that humans were descended from ape-like creatures. The scientific community, however, did grasp his theories and today his book forms the basis for many contemporary archaeological theories. In 1839 he married his cousin, Emma Wedgewood. After this, he spent much of his spare time gardening and raising pigeons. Charles Darwin lived with his wife and children at their home on Downe, England. It is thought that he may have contracted some kind of illness during his travels in South America. He died on April 19, 1882 and is buried at Westminster Abbey. Darwin's main works include The Origin of Species and The Descent of Man. They were published in 1859 and 1871 respectively. |
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