Charles Darwin, a naturalist, developed the theory of natural
selection. He was born in Shrewsbury, England on Feb. 12, 1809. His father was
also a naturalist and a physician. His mother died when he was eight. Darwin
was the first of the evolutionary biologists . At age sixteen, Darwin left
Shrewsbury to study medicine at University of
Edinbourgh . However, he could not continue in the studies because the
sight of surgery performed without anesthesia repelled him.
Eventually, Darwin attended Cambridge
University to study to become a clergyman. After he graduated, he went on a
five-year scientific expedition to the Pacific Coast of South America on the
H.M.S. Beagle from 1831 - 1836. On the Origin of Species was published
in 1859 describing evolution and natural selection and giving a theoretical
explanation for the diversity among living and fossil beings. His book was not
well received among the general population who felt threatened at the notion
that humans were descended from ape-like creatures. The scientific community,
however, did grasp his theories and today his book forms the basis for many
contemporary archaeological theories.
In 1839 he married his cousin, Emma Wedgewood. Charles Darwin lived with his
wife and children at their home on Downe,
Darwin's main works include The Origin of Species and The Descent of
Man. They were published in 1859 and 1871 respectively.
Biography - Former Link, http://www.sonic.net/tfoot/darwinbio/darwin.htm
(2006)
Former Link, Biography
of Darwin (2006)
Written
by: Krista Gowans