Who was Charles Darwin?

Charles Darwin, English naturalist, formulated the Theory of Evolution of Species, foresaw genetic mechanisms and founded modern biology. author of the classic The Origin of Species, he was one of the most important figures on evolutionism and the origin of life.

The work made an immense contribution to the understanding of human evolution and, to this day, is considered one of the most influential academic books in history.

Who was Charles Darwin?

Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12, 1809. From a wealthy, traditional and religious family, from a very early age he already showed an interest in nature and all the phenomena that occurred in it.

At the age of 16, after completing secondary school in his hometown, he entered the University of Edinburgh to study medicine. He had a keen interest in the discipline of Natural History and collected stones, shells, coins, plants, wildflowers and bird eggs.

In 1828 he left medicine and began an ecclesiastical career. He left for Cambridge and enrolled at Christ's College. After three years, he completed his Bachelor of Arts and continued his studies to be pastor of the Anglican Church.

At Cambridge he met and became friends with the clergyman, geologist and botanist John Stevens Henslow. Influenced by him, Darwin accompanied geologist Adam Sedgwick on a geological expedition to North Wales. At the age of 22, he embarked on a 27-meter sailboat, heading to the Cape Verde archipelago.

He traveled all over the world and, after four years and nine months of travel, he landed in Falmouth, England. In 1838, he was appointed Secretary of the Geological Society, a position he held until 1841. He married his cousin, Emma Darwin, with whom he had 10 children.

In 1842, owing to failing health, he moved to a farm on Down. After 17 years, he published The Origin of Species, explaining his Theory of Evolution. The book had the first edition sold out in one day.

Charles Darwin died on April 19, 1882, probably from a heart attack. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, London, next to Isaac Newton.

Theory of Evolution of Species

According to Darwin's theory,through the ages, Life forms evolve slowly, but it continues. These foundations later became known as darwinism. According to the theory:

• The individuals, even if they are of the same species, are not all identical, but they present variations of characters.
• Many anatomical and physiological differences observed among beings in a population are transmitted from one generation to the next.
• Individuals that have traits that contribute to their survival will live to the age of reproduction.
• When they reproduce, these individuals have a great chance of transmitting to their offspring the variations that favor survival.
• From time to time, an individual undergoes a random change in the organism's formation process. If this accidental alteration favors its survival, it will reach reproductive age with a great chance of transmitting it to part of its offspring.
• The repetition of the mechanism of inheritance and adaptation to the environment over several generations leads to changes gradual changes in a group of individuals of the species, until that group becomes so different from the original that a new species.

Read too:

• Who was Galileo Galilei?
• Who was Martin Luther King?
• Who was Nelson Mandela?