Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

Even though Charles Darwin constructed his theory of natural selection well over 150 years ago, there is still great controversy regarding its cogency today. Most Americans and Europeans in the 19th century first heard of the concept of Natural Selection, a theory of evolution through Darwin around this time period. Clearly, he did not invent this concept because works of the same nature were around long before he was born. However, Charles Darwin was so great because he carried out the necessary research to conclusively document that evolution has occurred and then made the idea acceptable for scientists and the general public.

Before conducting my research, I had many questions in which I wanted answered pertaining the time era as well as the personal life of Charles Darwin. My first question that I came to ask myself was I wonder what Darwin’s childhood like? After researching this question I found myself intrigued in what I found. I learned that Darwin grew up in a moderately wealthy household in Shrewsbury, England (Charles Darwin Research Institute.) His father Robert actually had the largest medical practice outside of London at the time. His mother, Susannah Wedgwood was from a wealthy family of pottery manufacturers. The house that he grew up in was comparatively large, and he had many servants in the household. Charles’ mother died when he was only 8 years old and thereafter he was primarily raised by his father and his older sisters. Most women in this time era were only given enough education to properly maintain a household. Young men of this era were expected to study at the top universities and go on to peruse careers such as medical doctors, military officers, or clerics in the Church of England. Most other occupations were considered somewhat unsavory. Besides the fact that his mother died at such an early age, I would say it is safe to say that Charles Darwin had a pretty normal childhood for this time period.

This is what...