Darwin Day

Whether you’re a seasoned scientist who doesn’t mind getting your hands dirty or the thought of math and dissection makes you blanch, on Darwin Day on February 12, we celebrate Charles Darwin’s work and science in general. Take the extra time to learn about his experiments, findings, and accomplishments, and reflect on how they still affect us today. The discovery of evolutionary creation has led scientists across multiple fields to make life-altering and life-saving discoveries about our species and how we originated. There’s a lot to be grateful for in Darwin and his research!

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Charles Darwin, the man who would come to be known as the father of natural selection, was born on February 12, 1809, the fifth of six children in a wealthy English family. His father was a doctor, and his grandfathers were naturalists who laid the groundwork for the discoveries that Charles would go on to make. In 1825, Charles, who had been helping his father to care for the poor and sick in Shropshire, left for medical school. He found it dull, and his studies lacked effort. It wasn’t long until his father sent him to Christ’s College in Cambridge to become an Anglican parson.

Though he was on a religious course of study, Darwin was drawn to natural sciences. A friend at the time got him interested in beetle collecting, and he became acquainted with other parson naturalists who spurred his interest even more. He positioned himself to join his professor on a trip to the tropics to study natural history.

After his return, Darwin received an offer to serve as a naturalist on an expedition that headed down the coast of South America. The ship was the HMS Beagle, of which the captain was Robert FitzRoy. Darwin set out on his voyage in 1931 and spent five years aboard this ship. Across South America, Darwin was exposed to a wealth of new geology, anthropology, zoology, and botany. He carefully collected samples of fossils, rocks, plants, and bugs to bring back to England. Darwin and FitzRoy kept journals of the trip, which are impactful documents today.

Darwin’s theories of evolution were already percolating as the HMS Beagle returned to England. It was especially the finches in the Galapagos Islands that illustrated his theories. He madly rewrote his journals from the trip to gain a better understanding, read the work of Malthus and conducted experiments with plants to test his theories. During this time of overworking, he got married but also developed a chronic illness.

Finally, Darwin published “On the Origin of Species,” a book that described the case for natural selection, in 1859. While the book was unexpectedly popular, there was pushback from the church, which taught divine creation as the source of life. He continued to work and publish on evolution and selection for the next 22 years of his life. He would eventually die of heart disease in 1882, likely from the chronic Chagas disease he suffered from.

DARWIN DAY TIMELINE

February 12, 1809Darwin is Born

On what would later become Darwin Day, future naturalist Charles Darwin was born to a wealthy family of high-society doctors.

1825Off to Medical School

After serving as an apprentice doctor with his father, young Charles Darwin heads off to Edinburgh Medical School.

1828Darwin Studies Religion

When the medical school didn't work out, Darwin was sent to Christ’s College, Cambridge, to become an Anglican parson.

December 27, 1831HMS Beagle Voyage Begins

Darwin, aboard the HMS Beagle as a naturalist, travels with the crew for five years, constantly documenting natural life and zoology throughout.

November 24, 1859“On the Origin of Species” Published

Darwin’s groundbreaking 500+ page book, which lays his theory of human evolution, is released and gains unexpected clamor and popularity.

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