Born Charles Robert Darwin in 1809, Darwin led a life of discovery and devotion to science. He attended college, a few times, and was a popular author of more than 30 books and episodic publications. Famous for his theories on evolution and natural selection, Charles Darwin was much more than an evolutionary theorist. He was a naturalist, a devoted father and an artist.
Childhood
The son of a physician, Robert Darwin, Charles was expected to follow in the family trade. Although he couldn't stand the sight of blood, Charles attended Edinburgh University to study medicine under the forceful influence of his father. After dropping out, Charles Darwin was subject to ridicule by his elder, being called a failure in his eyes.
Romantic Life
Charles Darwin maintained a list of pros and cons of marriage throughout his younger years. Finally, upon concluding his list he decided that marriage would result in companionship more fulfilling than owning a dog. He later married his wife and bore 10 children, although three died.
Self-Criticism
Charles Darwin was so meticulous in his research that he held off on publishing On the Origin of Species, for nearly 20 years. This gave him plenty of time to perfect his theories and further test them before presenting them for public reading. From here is where he began to be known for his theories on evolution and natural selection.
Controversy
In the beginning, and for quite a long time, Darwin's theory on evolution and natural selection wasn't accepted, primarily by religious groups. However, in 2008, the Church of England released a public apology stating,"for misunderstanding you and, by getting our first reaction wrong, encouraging others to misunderstand you still." In modern times as of 2010, the theory of evolution and natural selection coincides with Mendelian physics, which are the basics in understanding biological science.
Although Charles Darwin is still widely misunderstood by groups of people, such as Christian fundamentalists, it remains to be told that he was an amazing and integral part in how we understand modern science today.
Random Fun Facts
- Charles Darwin shares his date of birth with 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Both men were born on February 12, 1809.
- Darwin was at one point in his life a Christian, but later denounced the religious belief to become an agnostic.
- Charles Darwin has influenced so many scientists and explorers with his observant nature and genius, as of 2010, more than 120 different animal and plant species have been named after him. One such species is the Galapagos Batfish.
- Darwin was only 16 years old when his father enrolled him into Edinburgh School of Medicine. When he failed to show interest in the medical field, his father enrolled him into Christ's College of Cambridge. There, he attended studies to become a priest for the income it could create. However, Darwin showed no interest in this either.
Chelsea Hoffman - Published novelist and freelance writer Chelsea Hoffman can be found on twitter @ckhoffmanf
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