Charles Darwin
AUTHOR

Charles Darwin

Literature & Fiction | Science & Engineering | Biographies & Memoirs
Tap the gear icon above to manage new release emails.
Charles Robert Darwin, (/ˈdɑːrwɪn/; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contributions to evolutionary theory. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and in a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding. Darwin published his theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, overcoming scientific rejection of earlier concepts of transmutation of species. By the 1870s, the scientific community and much of the general public had accepted evolution as a fact. However, many favoured competing explanations and it was not until the emergence of the modern evolutionary synthesis from the 1930s to the 1950s that a broad consensus developed in which natural selection was the basic mechanism of evolution. In modified form, Darwin's scientific discovery is the unifying theory of the life sciences, explaining the diversity of life. Darwin's early interest in nature led him to neglect his medical education at the University of Edinburgh; instead, he helped to investigate marine invertebrates. Studies at the University of Cambridge (Christ's College) encouraged his passion for natural science. His five-year voyage on HMS Beagle established him as an eminent geologist whose observations and theories supported Charles Lyell's uniformitarian ideas, and publication of his journal of the voyage made him famous as a popular author. Puzzled by the geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils he collected on the voyage, Darwin began detailed investigations and in 1838 conceived his theory of natural selection. Although he discussed his ideas with several naturalists, he needed time for extensive research and his geological work had priority. He was writing up his theory in 1858 when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay that described the same idea, prompting immediate joint publication of both of their theories. Darwin's work established evolutionary descent with modification as the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. In 1871 he examined human evolution and sexual selection in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, followed by The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. His research on plants was published in a series of books, and in his final book, he examined earthworms and their effect on soil. Darwin has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history; he was honoured by burial in Westminster Abbey. Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Henry Maull (1829–1914) and John Fox (1832–1907) (Maull & Fox) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
Read more Read less
Not an Audible member?
From £7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Start your free 30-day trial

The Voyage of the Beagle

Most popular
View Details

Best Sellers

Product list
  • The Voyage of the Beagle cover art

    Regular price: £23.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £23.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Origin of Species (AmazonClassics Edition) cover art

    Regular price: £23.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £23.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • On the Origin of Species cover art

    Regular price: £14.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £14.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • On the Origin of Species cover art

    Regular price: £30.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £30.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex cover art

    Regular price: £32.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £32.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection cover art

    Regular price: £23.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £23.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Voyage of the Beagle cover art

    Regular price: £14.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £14.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals cover art

    Regular price: £18.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £18.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Autobiography of Charles Darwin cover art

    Regular price: £8.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £8.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • On the Origin of Species cover art

    Regular price: £16.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £16.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Very Best of Charles Darwin cover art

    Regular price: £30.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £30.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • On the Origin of Species cover art

    Regular price: £18.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £18.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Voyage of the Beagle cover art

    Regular price: £21.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £21.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • El origen de las especies [On the Origin of Species] cover art

    Regular price: £12.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £12.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • El origen de las especies [On the Origin of Species] cover art

    Regular price: £6.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £6.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • The Autobiography of Charles Darwin (Annotated) cover art

    Regular price: £6.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £6.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • Eyewitnesses from History cover art

    Regular price: £7.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £7.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • Reise um die Welt cover art

    Regular price: £11.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £11.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • On the Origin of Species cover art

    Regular price: £16.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £16.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00
  • On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection cover art

    Regular price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00

Are you an author?

Help us improve our Author Pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography.
Visit Amazon Author Central