Book description
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY DARWIN'S GREAT-GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, RUTH PADEL
When the eminent naturalist Charles Darwin returned from South
America on board the H. M.S Beagle in 1836, he brought with him
the notes and evidence which would form the basis of his landmark
theory of evolution of species by a process of natural selection. This
theory, published as The Origin of Species in 1859, is the
basis of modern biology and the concept of biodiversity. It also
sparked a fierce scientific, religious and philosophical debate which
still continues today.
Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shropshire, England.
He was educated at Edinburgh University and Christ's College, Cambridge.
Between 1831 and 1836 he travelled in South America aboard the H. M.S
Beagle
to explore the geology and natural history of the area, and published
his journal of findings in 1839. His most famous book
On the Origin
of the Species by Means of Natural Selection
, appeared in 1859 and is arguably one of the most important scientific
works ever published. The theories of evolution and natural selection
proposed in this book and
The Descent of Man
(1871) are still the subject of intense debate and scrutiny today.
Charles Darwin died on 19 April, 1882 and was buried in Westminster
Abbey.
