Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

Biography The following is submitted by Craig Armstrong and a second contribution by Tyler Young follows this. Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shewsbury England. Charles was the second son and the fifth of six children. Darwin's mother Susannah Wedgewood died when he was eight. Charles's education started from his older sister. Charles finally attended Cambridge until he was twenty two years old. He left school to travel on the H.M.S. Beagle to do reaserch that became a revolution in science.

Darwin's research showed that species can be modified for different ends, our that species adapt to their living environment to stay alive. That is why he called it "The survival of the fittest". This answers the question of who made the selection of what is to be evolved. This theory is known as Natural Selection. The species that do survive in the competition for existence will go on to produce the next generation.

Many scientists at this time did not agree with Darwin's theory. They did not think it was a revolution. As time went on, this theory was more accepted, and is now considered a true revolution.
Second Contribution--Tylor Young

Charles Darwin had an instrumental part in bringing the theory of evolution to light. His revolutionary ideas on evolution sparked controversy and shed light on many unanswered questions that the scientific community had about the subject during the nineteenth century. The "Voyage of the Beagle" and "The Origin of Species" were his most read books on the subject that he studied. His theory of evolution was a drastic proposition for the time, but he quickly gained numerous followers in both the scientific community and from the public.
Darwin was born on 12 February, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. His father, Robert Darwin was a successful doctor in Shrewsbury. Charles had plans to be a doctor also, but his plans changed as his life took its course. He showed an interset in many subjects at an early age. He developed an urge to travel, had a passion for shooting, collected minerals, insects and birds. All these traits would later come in handy when he traveled around the world to conduct his studies.
Darwin went to Cambridge to become a clergyman. In retrospect, Darwin concluded that his time at Cambridge was useless to him but two good things came from his time there. Field courses and meeting a Dr. Henslow were his good experiences at Cambridge. Dr. Henslow interested him in geology, botany, and entomology. It was Henslow that introduced Darwin to Captain Fitz-Roy, of the Beagle.
Darwin was on the Beagle for nearly 5 years. Back from the trip he got married and settled down to work. His health was poor and he attempted to compile notes of his trip around the world. His compilation turned into the "Origin of Species" and it was published in 1859.

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