1809 -1882
 I have called this
principle, by which
each slight variation, if useful, is preserved,
by the term Natural Selection.
Charles Darwin from "The Origin of Species"
Charles Darwin was born
on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He was the British
naturalist who became famous for his theories of evolution and natural
selection. Like several scientists before him, Darwin believed all the
life on earth evolved (developed gradually) over millions of years from
a few common ancestors.
From 1831 to 1836 Darwin served as
naturalist aboard
the H.M.S. Beagle on a British science expedition around the world. In
South America Darwin found fossils of extinct animals that were similar
to modern species. On the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean he
noticed many variations among plants and animals of the same general
type as those in South America. The expedition visited places around the
world, and Darwin studied plants and animals everywhere he went,
collecting specimens for further study.
Upon his return to London Darwin conducted thorough
research of his notes and specimens. Out of this study grew several
related theories: one, evolution did occur; two, evolutionary change was
gradual, requiring thousands to millions of years; three, the primary
mechanism for evolution was a process called natural selection; and
four, the millions of species alive today arose from a single original
life form through a branching process called "specialization."
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Darwin's theory of
evolutionary selection holds that variation within species occurs
randomly and that the survival or extinction of each organism is
determined by that organism's ability to adapt to its environment. He
set these theories forth in his book called, "On the Origin of Species
by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in
the Struggle for Life" (1859) or "The Origin of Species" for short.
After publication of Origin of Species, Darwin continued to write on
botany, geology, and zoology until his death in 1882. He is buried in
Westminster Abbey.
Darwin's work had a tremendous impact on religious
thought. Many people strongly opposed the idea of evolution because it
conflicted with their religious convictions. Darwin avoided talking
about the theological and sociological aspects of his work, but other
writers used his theories to support their own theories about society.
Darwin was a reserved, thorough, hard working scholar who concerned
himself with the feelings and emotions not only of his family, but
friends and peers as well.
It has been supposed that Darwin renounced evolution
on his deathbed. Shortly after his death, a Lady Hope claimed she
visited Darwin at his deathbed, and witnessed the renunciation. Her
story was printed in a Boston newspaper and subsequently spread. Lady
Hope's story was refuted by Darwin's daughter Henrietta who stated, "I
was present at his deathbed ... He never recanted any of his scientific
views, either then or earlier."
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