Darwin and the Origin of Species

Darwin’sDarwin, Charles Robert development of the theory of evolution by natural selectionselectionnatural is described. When DarwinDarwin, Charles Robert started his BeagleBeagle voyage voyage of 1831, he believed in the fixity of species. Contrary to the opinion of the population, he was not converted to transformism when he visited the GalapagosGalapagos islands Islands during his voyage. Conversion took place soon after his return to England in 1836. DarwinDarwin, Charles Robert was influenced especially by the writings of Lyell, Paley, and Malthus when constructing his theory. DarwinDarwin, Charles Robert was reluctant to publish his theory, but when he discovered that Wallace had independently discovered an almost identical theory to his, a joint Darwin–WallaceDarwin, Charles Robert paper was promptly presented to the Linnean Society in 1858. Darwin’sDarwin, Charles Robert Origin of Species was published the following year. Of all the reviews of his groundbreaking book, the one written by the engineer Jenkin in 1867 was the most significant.