Charles Robert Darwin was born at The Mount, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England on this day in 1809.
"It is easy to specify the individual objects of admiration in these grand scenes; but it is not possible to give an adequate idea of the higher feelings of wonder, astonishment, and devotion, which fill and elevate the mind."
--from "The Voyage of the Beagle" (1839) by Charles Darwin
--from "The Voyage of the Beagle" (1839) by Charles Darwin
Easily the most influential book published in the nineteenth century, Darwin’s The Origin of Species is also that most unusual phenomenon, an altogether readable discussion of a scientific subject. On its appearance in 1859 it was immediately recognized by enthusiasts and detractors alike as a work of the greatest importance: its revolutionary theory of evolution by means of natural selection provoked a furious reaction that continues to this day. The Origin of Species is here published together with Darwin’s earlier Voyage of the ‘Beagle.’ This 1839 account of the journeys to South America and the Pacific islands that first put Darwin on the track of his remarkable theories derives an added charm from his vivid description of his travels in exotic places and his eye for the piquant detail. READ an excerpt here: http://knopfdoubleday.com/…/the-origin-of-species-and-the-…/
Happy birthday to Charles Darwin, who launched on a journey around the world as a naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle in 1831 at the age of 22. The observations made during the voyage appear in all his later writings, including those after the Origin of Species was published in 1859.
This model of the Beagle — one of the two most accurate in existence — is part of our History of Science collection. See our online exhibition for more info: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/darwin/
This model of the Beagle — one of the two most accurate in existence — is part of our History of Science collection. See our online exhibition for more info: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/darwin/
“I find a ship a very comfortable house, with everything you want, & if it was not for sea-sickness the whole world would be sailors.”
— Charles Darwin
— Charles Darwin
