Tag Archives: Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin’s visit to the Galapagos Islands contributed greatly to him discovering evolution by natural selection. The islands are also well known for its giant tortoises, and Charles Darwin apparently had a few as pets. One of them was apparently called Harriet, and she lived to the age of 175. She passed away in 2006Continue reading “Fun Fact: Harriet Darwin”

In his life Charles Darwin had ten children with his wife Emma, and he was quite the devoted father. A bit uncommon in the 19th century, as many fathers spent very little time raising their children. When his daughter Anne died from scarlet fever at the age of ten, he was absolutely devastated.

While Charles Darwin had quite the opposition with the theory of evolution, a supporter named Thomas Henry Huxley was so well known for his advocacy that he was nicknamed “Darwin’s Bulldog”. In 1860 he debated Church of England bishop (and talented public speaker) Samuel Wilberforce at Oxford. Wilberforce mocked him and asked Huxley if heContinue reading “Fun Fact: Darwin’s Bulldog”

Charles Darwin once inspected an particular type of orchid from Madagascar which had a certain problem. Nobody could really figure out what kind of insect could pollinate the flower due to its unique shape. Darwin suspected it was some kind of moth with a lengthy string-like mouth. The Morgan’s sphinx moth was discovered about 21Continue reading “Fun Fact: Darwin’s Moth”

For his scientific achievements, Charles Darwin was buried at Westminster Abbey. Not far away from other legendary scientists such as John Herschel and Issac Newton.