What should we Know about Darwin?

Background:

In the town of Shrewsbury, England, on February 12, 1809, Charles Darwin was born. His parents were Susannah Wedgwood and Dr. R.W. Darwin. His mother died when he was a child, at eight years old. Darwin had five older brothers, and one younger, making him the second youngest of six children. Darwin's favorite hobby was to explore nature. His family was wealthy and privileged. Darwin's father was a medical doctor and, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, his grandfather, was a famous botanist.

Education:

        Along with his brother Erasmus, Darwin was enrolled at Edinburgh University at age 16,  in October 1825. Two years after that, Darwin became a pupil at Christ's College in Cambridge. His father had high hopes that Darwin would proceed in his path and become a medical doctor, but he would get queasy with the sight of blood. His father suggested that he should study to become a minister, or priest, instead. Darwin, though, was far more interested in studying natural history.

Accomplishments and achievements:

        He is more renowned for his work as a naturalist. He explained biological change, through a theory of evolution. As a naturalist and biologist, Darwin is known for his theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. He embarked on the HMS Beagle, on a five-year survey voyage around the world to study different species. He was led to formulate his theories with the data from the studies of specimens. Darwin published his theories in the On the Origin of Species book in 1859.

Worldly Influence:

        Darwin transformed the world of science with the publication of his book, The Origin. Darwin's theory affected the entire culture because it questioned the strong beliefs of the worldview. The controversy continues even today as seen with the evolution versus creationism debates in some school systems. Darwin's theory of natural selection united biology, and unalterably impacted the world. The "Theory of Evolution" had a profound effect on other branches of science as well. It was the first time throughout the development of scientific history, that science was disconnected from the concept of religion and was completely deduced by experimentation, observations and inferences. It can be concluded that Darwin's theory gave science much freedom.

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