Charles Darwin: Traced human ancestry to apes

Charles Darwin, born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, is one of the most influential figures in the history of modern science. Referred to as the ‘Father of Evolutionary Biology,’ his birth anniversary is celebrated as Darwin Day to honour his contributions to the field. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of scientific discovery, critical thinking, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Darwin's early education was at Shrewsbury School, where he was not a particularly stellar student. As he wrote later, "I believe that I was considered by all my masters and by my father as a very ordinary boy, rather below the common intelligence." His own interest was nature, especially beetles. He developed a large beetle collection, including some rare species.

Darwin was sent to Edinburgh Medical School, but he left after two years, in 1827, as he struggled with discipline and became more interested in natural history. His academic interest flourished when he joined Christ’s College, Cambridge, in 1828, to study priesthood, earning a bachelor of arts degree at Cambridge University in 1831.

His passion for natural sciences, particularly biology and geology, piqued during this time as he became friends with two Cambridge professors, geologist Adam Sedgwick and botanist John Henslow. During the time, a sailing trip on Her Majesty's Ship Beagle (HMS Beagle) was arranged by the Royal Navy and the captain, Robert Fitzroy, asked Henslow to recommend a naturalist for the journey. Henslow recommended Darwin. The Beagle sailed from England on December 27, 1831.

This five-year journey became the cornerstone of Darwin's scientific career, allowing him to explore a wide variety of ecosystems and collect specimens from diverse regions, ranging from the tropical forests of South America to the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific. His observations, particularly on the variation of species across different environments, led him to question established ideas about species being immutable. His groundbreaking theories on natural selection and evolution reshaped people’s understanding of biology and laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology.

His most famous work, 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection', was formulated in private after he returned from the voyage, but it was not until two decades that he gave it public expression in 1859. In a letter to his wife, he wrote that if he died, she should pay an editor £400 to publish the work.

Darwin’s methodical approach to gathering evidence, such as the fossil record and biogeographical patterns, set a new standard for scientific inquiry. The book was met with both praise and criticism, especially from religious groups, as it challenged the literal interpretation of the creation story in the Bible.

Following its success, Darwin published several other significant works. 'The Descent of Man' (1871) extended his evolutionary ideas to human beings, proposing that humans share a common ancestor with apes. In 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' (1872), he examined how emotions manifest in both humans and animals, advancing the understanding of psychological traits as evolutionary adaptations.

Darwin died on April 19, 1882, at the age of 73, after a prolonged illness. His work continues to inspire researchers, and his legacy endures in both the scientific community and the broader cultural landscape. Darwin's contributions to science have reshaped our view of life, making him a key figure in biology and a symbol of intellectual courage and the power of observation.