Summary:
A brief biography of the life of Charles Darwin, including events in his childhood, his influences, and his travels that led to his theory of the origin of species.
Charles Darwin lived a life of many influential discoveries and interesting ideas. Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12, 1809. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). He was the fifth of six children in his family. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). He had a tight knit Christian professing family until something terrible happened. Then on that day in 1812 when he lost his mother, he was forced to raise his younger sister, Caroline. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). Shortly after his mother passed away he enrolled as boarder at Shrewsbury Grammar School. His family led to many of the different things that happened later in his life.
His main influences in his family were his parents, Robert and Susannah Darwin. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). His father was a physician and wanted Charles to follow in his footsteps, but Charles did not find any interest in that realm of study. His grandfathers were Erasmus Darwin and Josial Wedgwood. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). Erasmus was in the field of science as a physician like his son Robert Darwin. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). Josial was a famous china and pottery maker. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). Throughout his life Josial helped his older sister raise his younger brothers and sisters to become good Christian people.
Once Charles got older he married Emma Wedgwood in 1839. Emma happened to be Charles' cousin. During their marriage they had ten children, with half of them being boys and half of them girls. Many of their children suffered from illnesses and weaknesses. This spurred a thought in Charles. Charles thought that marrying within his own family caused these illnesses of his children. He began to document these in journals to let out what he was pondering on.
As stated earlier he started his schooling at the Shrewsbury Grammar School during 1818-1825. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). Although Charles Darwin grew up to be a well respected man in his field of science he was not provided a high quality education growing up. During the beginning of his education he was taught according to Greek language based curriculum. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). While in Edinburgh, he studied medicine, but soon realized that he was not making any expedient progress. (Darwin's Theory of Evolution- A Theory in Crisis). Charles also studied a Cambridge University to learn more about the ministry.(Nardo 14). Due to his lack of motivation he was only in attendance for three years. Although it was his worst subject, he received his bachelor's degree in theology in January of 1831.
His many studies were influence by other famous scientists. His first major influence was John Stevens Hinslow. (Nardo 14). This man was a widely respected in the field of botany. (Nardo 14). Charles met him while studying at Cambridge. His next role-model was Adam Sedgwick who happened to be renowned geologist and clergyman. (Nardo 15). Charles had the pleasure of meeting him after he graduated, Charles considered him a very brilliant teacher. (Nardo 15).
While he was studying at Cambridge he began admiring scientist Charles Lyell. (Nardo 20). Lyell was the founder of science of geology. (Nardo 20). However, one occasion when Lyell was asked publicly he did not support any of Charles Darwin's ideas. (Nardo 20).
After Darwin began to take science seriously he was introduced to chances of doing experiments across many places of the world. One of the trips he studied on was his trip on the S.S. Beagle. The S.S. Beagle set sail on September 15, 1835. (Nardo 16). The trip's destination was the Galapagos Islands. Darwin's main purpose on the S.S. Beagle was to collect plants, insects, and other geological specimens. Soon after that, he began his origin of species studies. The first part of that was Darwin's theory of Evolution. He presumed the development of life from non-life or abiogenesis. (Charles Darwin Biography). The theory also stresses a purely naturalistic descent with modification. (Charles Darwin Biography). Lastly it stated, as random genetic mutations occur, beneficial mutations can result in an entirely different organisms. (Charles Darwin Biography). He based most of this theory from a Greek philosopher's postulate. (Charles Darwin Biography).
Another aspect of Darwin's theory is the subject of natural selection. (Charles Darwin Biography). Natural Selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantages and genetic mutations. (Charles Darwin Biography). It is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild, and acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations. (Charles Darwin Biography). Last, he wrote several books about his discoveries in genetics including Origin of a Species and Voyage of a Beagle. (Charles Darwin Biography).
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