Everyone knows the name Charles Darwin, but does everyone know what he did and why he’s so famous? If not, don’t worry about it. I’m going to tell you a little about him and what led to his immense success and the title “Father of Evolution.”
Charles Robert Darwin was born in England in February of 1809. His father, a medical doctor, and his grandfather, a botanist, had both been renown scientists. Darwin’s father hoped that his son would become a doctor too but Charles was not fond of blood, and with his interest in nature he decided to pursue the study of natural history. He graduated from Christ’s College in Cambridge with a bachelor of arts degree and went on to take a naturalist job on the HMS Beagle (a ship of the Royal Navy), as per a recommendation from his mentor. Oh boy was he in for a ride because this ship was about to take a 5 year survey trip around the world.
Darwin’s trip jump started the development of his famous theory about the origin of living organisms, as it gave him the opportunity to observe principles of botany, geology and zoology. During his trip he also became interested in studying South America especially the Pacific Islands and the Galapagos Archipelago.
Darwin’s theory of evolution has shaped science in more ways than you can imagine, and we continue to use his theory in science everyday. He stated that a species’ survival depended upon a process called natural selection where those that adapted and evolved to their changing environment would thrive and reproduce and those who did not adapt/evolve would eventually die off. Darwin began to notice similarities between species as he continued to study things such as plants, animals, and fossils. The similarities and differences among species in specific locations led Darwin to the conclusion that the organisms of today must have gradually evolved from common ancestors.
Darwinism, as it came to be known, was the combination of Darwin’s theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. Scientists up until then had believed that species were either created when the world was created or came into existence over time, but they never thought that species could evolve or change.
In 1858, Darwin revealed his theory publicly and in 1859 he published his most famous work, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
Although Darwin himself didn’t connect his work to society, Social Darwinism came about and it was basically Darwinism but in society and humanity. So, it applied the concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest to sociology, economics, and politics.
After a lifetime of revolutionary research, Charles Darwin passed away back home in London.
