Journey to Galapagos Islands on HMS Beagle led to Darwin's Theory of Evolution. The mission of the Beagle was to map the coasts of South America for the Royal Navy. As the ship's naturalist, Darwin spent most of his time on land investigating the geology and making natural history collections, while the Beagle surveyed and charted coasts.
Charles Darwin’s Voyage to the Galapagos Islands,
Darwin joined the Beagle in 1839 when he was 22. The voyage was supposed to last two years, but in the end it took five years. The ship visited Argentina, Chile, and many other countries, and throughout this time Darwin carried on with his duties as a naturalist. It was his observations of fossils, animals, birds, flora and fauna, primarily in the Galapagos Islands, that led eventually to his controversial book On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection which was not published until 24 November, 1859.
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
During the era when Darwin was sailing around the world on the Beagle, most people in Europe believed what the bible preached - that the world was created by God in seven days. However, there was a school of thought that believed the fossil evidence found in rocks was evidence that a form of life had existed for thousands of years. Darwin’s breakthrough came about during his time on the Galapagos Islands. Ideas and insights come at unexpected moments, often when the mind is open and not focussed on anything specific and Darwin's moment came when he observed that finches from two different islands had evolved in small but different ways.
Darwin’s Final Conclusions re his Theory of Evolution
The riddle of the finches, plus other observations, puzzled Darwin for many years. He pondered for twenty years on how species evolve. In 1859, twenty three years after his voyage on the Beagle, his famous book was published. The book was, of course, extremely controversial, mainly because his theory was extended to all life and suggested that human beings may be descended from apes.
Another naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace, had been developing similar ideas over the same period of time, and they made a joint announcement of their discovery. Wallace, unfortunately missed out on his share of posthumous glory. He did get recognition during his lifetime but thereafter his contribution was largely overlooked.
Charles Darwin had a happy marriage which produced 10 children. He is buried in Westminster Abbey and his gravestone and a bronze memorial relief are inside the Abbey.
Darwin at the National History Museum, London
The new Darwin Centre opened September 19, 2009 at the Natural History Museum in London. See world-leading scientists at work, incredible specimens, exciting displays and much more.
In spring 2009 the Museum marked the150th anniversary of Darwin’s groundbreaking book “On the Origin of the Species” with a fabulous exhibition that covered his life from childhood, through his journey around the world aboard the HMS Beagle, his family life and the legacy he left to the world.
Visit the Galapagos
There is a variety of accommodation available and Galapagos Island Tours are very popular as well as Galapagos cruises.
Cathy Smith - I have Miss McGinn to thank for my becoming a writer. I was in her class for only two years from age nine to eleven. In what we called ...
Join the Conversation