Charles Darwin

1809

(February) Born into privileged, upper-class medical family at Shrewsbury.

1817

Mother dies. Father, Robert, strict disciplinarian. Charles fascinated by natural history, particularly beetles.

1825

After private schooling Charles follows older brother Erasmus to Edinburgh to study medicine.

1828

Leaves Edinburgh. Studies divinity at Cambridge. Ambition to enter church.

1831

Leaves Cambridge with good degree, never to take Holy Orders.

1831

(December) Leaves England on HMS Beagle.

1836

(October) Returns from Beagle voyage.

1837

Begins writing ‘transmutation’ notebooks.

1839

Publishes Journal of the Beagle Voyage in Admiralty trilogy.

1842

Sketches out species ideas in 30 pages.

1844

Writes out 230-page Essay recording his theoretical ideas.

1845

Re-publishes Journal of the Beagle Voyage.

1846

Begins barnacle research.

1854

Completes barnacle studies in two volumes.

1857

Receives first letter from Alfred Russel Wallace.

1857

Writes letter to Asa Gray outlining new theoretical ideas.

1857

(December) Receives second letter from Wallace.

1858

(June) Receives third letter from Wallace.

1858

(July) Awarded priority for work on evolution over previous 20 years.

1859

Publication of On the Origin of Species.

1882

Dies in London