What Discoveries Did Charles Darwin Make?

Charles Darwin (1809—1882) was born in Shrewsbury, England, and attended both Edinburgh and Cambridge universities. In 1831, he was asked to join the survey ship HMS Beagle as a naturalist. From 1831 to 1836, HMS Beagle sailed on a discovery mission through the waters of the Southern Hemisphere.

On this expedition, Darwin first observed the diverse range of creatures and plants that would inspire him to write his most famous book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, published in 1859.

He waited over 20 years before publishing his renowned book, On the Origin of Species, because he anticipated his ideas would spark a tremendous scientific and theological outcry.

This book compelled many people to reconsider their religious and moral beliefs. It also revealed for the first time how all plants and animals evolved from their progenitors, as well as how natural selection allowed the fittest to survive and reproduce new generations.

The Truth About the Quotes

“Survival of the Fittest“: Philosopher Herbert Spencer coined this phrase in 1864 after reading Charles Darwin’s work. Darwin later adopted it in the 5th edition of On the Origin of Species (1869) as a synonym for “natural selection,” though he preferred his own term.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives…“: This popular quote is a misattribution. It actually originated from a 1963 lecture and writing by Louisiana State University management professor Leon C. Megginson, who paraphrased Darwin’s core ideas into a memorable modern summary.

Charles Darwin observed that all life on Earth evolves from common ancestors using a mechanism known as natural selection. Organisms with features that are best suited to their surroundings survive and reproduce. They pass on these beneficial characteristics to their progeny.

As a result, species evolve or produce new species. All living things, including humans, share distant common ancestors and have changed (evolved) over millions of years.

Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islands that finches and giant tortoises had distinct physical characteristics, such as differing beak forms, that were suited to their individual island ecosystems.

He placed humans in the same evolutionary family as all other animals, which changed our perception of ourselves. His study provided a scientific explanation for the diversity of life that did not require divine intervention.

To this day Charles Darwin’s core theory of evolution by natural selection remains totally true and serves as the foundation for modern biology.

Content for this question contributed by Shane Alkana, resident of Pomona, Los Angeles County, California, USA