Fellow of the Royal Society · Down House, Downe, Kent, England
c.darwin@royalsociety.org · ORCID 0000-0001-8200-1882 · https://darwin-online.org.uk
Charles Darwin (1831–1882) is a Naturalist and Independent Researcher based at Down House, Downe, Kent, England, whose work spans Natural selection and the origin of species, Biogeography and coral reef formation, Systematics of the Cirripedia (barnacles), Botany — climbing plants, insectivorous plants, orchid pollination, Expression of emotions in animals and humans, Earthworm ecology and soil formation. Over a career of more than four decades he produced 18 published works, including 16 books and 2 journal articles. Notable later works include The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, Insectivorous Plants, The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants, The Effects of Cross and Self-Fertilisation, The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species, The Power of Movement in Plants, The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms. Two stand out: On the Origin of Species (Darwin, 1859) and The Descent of Man (Darwin, 1871), whose closing argument on sexual selection (Darwin, 1871, Page 398) framed debates for decades.
His research was supported by 5 grants totalling £1730, averaging £346 per grant. The largest award — £1000 from HM Treasury — funded the Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. He mentored 6 students and junior colleagues, served on 4 learned societies, and received 6 formal honours over his career.
2 degrees from Edinburgh and Cambridge laid the groundwork for a career in natural history.
Christ's College, University of Cambridge — Theology and Natural Science (1828–1831)
University of Edinburgh — Medicine (1825–1827)
A career path from ship's naturalist to independent researcher, spanning 1831 to 1882.
Down House, Downe, Kent (1842–1882)
HMS Beagle, Royal Navy, Worldwide expedition (1831–1836)
16 books and 2 journal articles spanning four decades. The 8 works published after 1870 reflect the breadth of Darwin's later programme.
Journal of Researches (Voyage of the Beagle) (1839)
The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs (1842)
Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands (1844)
Geological Observations on South America (1846)
A Monograph on the Sub-Class Cirripedia (Lepadidae) (1851)
A Monograph on the Sub-Class Cirripedia (Balanidae) (1854)
On the Tendency of Species to Form Varieties (1858)
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859)
On the Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilised (1862)
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication (1868)
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871)
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)
Insectivorous Plants (1875)
The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants (1875)
The Effects of Cross and Self-Fertilisation (1876)
The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species (1877)
The Power of Movement in Plants (1880)
The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms (1881)
Journal of Researches (Voyage of the Beagle) (1839), Henry Colburn
The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs (1842), Smith, Elder & Co.
Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands (1844), Smith, Elder & Co.
Geological Observations on South America (1846), Smith, Elder & Co.
A Monograph on the Sub-Class Cirripedia (Lepadidae) (1851), Ray Society
A Monograph on the Sub-Class Cirripedia (Balanidae) (1854), Ray Society
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859), John Murray
On the Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilised (1862), John Murray
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication (1868), John Murray
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871), John Murray
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872), John Murray
Insectivorous Plants (1875), John Murray
The Effects of Cross and Self-Fertilisation (1876), John Murray
The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species (1877), John Murray
The Power of Movement in Plants (1880), John Murray
The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms (1881), John Murray
Formatted via citestyle · APA
5 grants from 2 Royal Society awards, a government commission, and other sources.
HM Treasury — £1000 (1837)
Royal Society — £300 (1863)
Royal Society — £200 (1879)
John Murray (publisher) — £180 (1859)
Linnean Society — £50 (1865)
Total: £1730 (average £346 per grant)
6 students and junior colleagues mentored across natural history, physiology, and comparative psychology: Joseph Dalton Hooker, Thomas Henry Huxley, Francis Darwin, George John Romanes, Sir John Lubbock, Edward Bagnall Poulton.
Scientific correspondent — Biogeography and plant distribution
Scientific correspondent — Comparative anatomy and evolution advocacy
Son and collaborator — Plant physiology and movement
Research mentee — Comparative psychology and animal intelligence
Neighbour and protégé — Entomology and prehistoric archaeology
Oxford protégé — Protective coloration and natural selection
Active in 4 learned societies over a career spanning 1831 to 1882: Geological Society of London, Royal Society of London, Linnean Society of London, Zoological Society of London.
Secretary (1838–1841)
Fellow (elected 1839) (1839–1882)
Fellow (1854–1882)
Fellow (1839–1882)
6 formal honours received over a career spanning four decades, including 2 from the Royal Society.
Royal Society (1853)
Geological Society (1859)
Royal Society (1864)
Kingdom of Prussia (1867)
University of Cambridge (1877)
Royal College of Physicians (1879)