360Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species
On 24 November 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, explaining how living things change over many generations through natural selection. Based on decades of observation, including on the voyage of HMS Beagle, it became one of the most influential books in the history of science.
From 1831 to 1836, the young naturalist Charles Darwin sailed around the world on HMS Beagle. He collected fossils, plants and animals and noticed how species varied from place to place, including the finches and tortoises of the Galápagos Islands.
Back in England, Darwin spent more than 20 years developing his ideas. He proposed that individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and have offspring, so those traits become more common over time. He called this natural selection.
In 1858, the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace reached the same idea independently, and their papers were presented together in London. Darwin then published his book, which sold out on its first day.
Darwin's theory became the foundation of modern biology. Combined later with genetics, it helps scientists understand everything from the spread of diseases to the breeding of crops.
- 1831–36
- Voyage of HMS Beagle
- 1858
- Darwin and Wallace papers presented
- 24 November 1859
- On the Origin of Species published
Sources: Natural History Museum · Darwin Correspondence Project · Britannica.