Earth Sciences 1081A/B Lecture Notes - Shrewsbury School, Robert Fitzroy, Her Majesty'S Ship
28 Jun 2022
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Charles darwin, the beagle, early thoughts on natural selection. Wandered the english countryside to study on animals and plants. Attended shrewsbury grammar school (not a good student: medicine (edinburgh university)-> study of ministry (cambridge university) after making initial contacts with the evolutionary theory. His professor at cambridge, john henslow, influenced his way of thinking. Met with captain robert fitzroy on a trip in wales (served as unpaid naturalist on h. m. s. Beagle departs from england: reads new book by charles lyell. Wrote principles of geology : reinforced hutton"s concept of uniformitarianism, emphasized significance of geological time, darwin was impressed when he said the result of slow changes can be dramatic. Published zoonomia, or the laws of organic life . Suggested that life evolved from a single common ancestor. Sexual selection and competition could cause changes in species. Spent 5 years exploring seacoasts of south america, australia and africa. Devote most of his waking hours observing plants and animals.
