Science · United Kingdom
Charles Darwin
Boarded the Beagle at 22, published his big idea at 50
Born Feb 12, 1809 · Died Apr 19, 1882
See it at your ageBy age
- 0Born in Shrewsbury, England, into a wealthy family
- 8His mother died when he was eight
- 16Sent to Edinburgh to study medicine at 16
- 18Switched to Cambridge, aiming to be a country parson
- 22Sailed on HMS Beagle at 22
- 27Returned to England after five years at sea
- 29Read Malthus and saw how natural selection would work +1
- 33Moved to Down House in Kent
- 42His daughter Annie died at ten
- 49His theory read alongside Wallace's at the Linnean Society
- 50Published On the Origin of Species at 50
- 62Published The Descent of Man
- 73Died at Down House at 73
Every entry, with its source
At 0
- Feb 12, 1809
Born in Shrewsbury, England, into a wealthy family
Fifth of six children. His father was a doctor, his grandfathers were Erasmus Darwin and Josiah Wedgwood.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 8
- Jul 1817
His mother died when he was eight
His older sisters largely raised him.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 16
- Oct 1825
Sent to Edinburgh to study medicine at 16
He found surgery without anaesthetic unbearable and neglected his lectures.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 18
- Jan 1828
Switched to Cambridge, aiming to be a country parson
He spent much of his time collecting beetles.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 22
- Dec 27, 1831
Sailed on HMS Beagle at 22
Invited as a gentleman naturalist and companion to the captain. The trip was meant to last two years; it took five.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 27
- Oct 2, 1836
Returned to England after five years at sea
He was already known among scientists thanks to specimens and letters sent home.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 29
- Sep 28, 1838
Read Malthus and saw how natural selection would work
He kept the theory mostly to himself for the next 20 years.
Source: en.wikipedia.org - Jan 29, 1839
Married his cousin Emma, five days after becoming FRS
He had weighed marriage in a list of pros and cons. They had ten children.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 33
- Sep 1842
Moved to Down House in Kent
He lived and worked there for the rest of his life, often ill.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 42
- Apr 1851
His daughter Annie died at ten
Her death ended what remained of his Christian faith.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 49
- Jul 1, 1858
His theory read alongside Wallace's at the Linnean Society
A letter from Alfred Russel Wallace with the same idea had forced his hand.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 50
- Nov 24, 1859
Published On the Origin of Species at 50
The first printing sold out to booksellers on the first day.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 62
- Feb 1871
Published The Descent of Man
He finally applied evolution to humans, and introduced sexual selection.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
At 73
- Apr 19, 1882
Died at Down House at 73
Buried in Westminster Abbey near Isaac Newton.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Sources: en.wikipedia.org