Darwin’s work extended beyond Origin. His later books, like The Descent of Man (1871), explored human evolution and sexual selection. Despite personal struggles—chronic illness, the loss of children, and crises of faith—Darwin remained dedicated to science. His humility, rigorous methods, and willingness to revise ideas set a standard for scientific inquiry.
Darwin’s early life showed little hint of his future impact. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University but found it dull, later pursuing theology at Cambridge. His true passion emerged during the voyage of the HMS Beagle (1831–1836), where he served as the ship’s naturalist. Exploring South America, the Galápagos Islands, and beyond, Darwin meticulously collected specimens and observed diverse species. The Galápagos finches, with their varied beaks adapted to different diets, sparked his ideas about adaptation and species divergence.
Back in England, Darwin developed his theory over decades, drawing on evidence from geology, paleontology, and biogeography. He proposed that species evolve through natural selection, where traits favoring survival and reproduction become more common over generations. This idea, initially controversial, faced resistance from religious and scientific communities but gained traction as evidence mounted.
Origin of Species (1859), challenged the prevailing views of his time and remains a cornerstone of modern biology.
Darvin
Today, Darwin’s legacy endures in evolutionary biology, genetics, and conservation. His insights into life’s interconnectedness continue to inspire research and debate. Darwin died in 1882, but his ideas live on, profoundly shaping how we understand our place in the natural world.
Charles Darwin, born February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, was a naturalist whose groundbreaking work reshaped our understanding of life. His theory of evolution by natural selection, detailed in On the Origin of Species (1859), challenged the prevailing views of his time and remains a cornerstone of modern biology.
