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Darwin in Devon
The scientist, Charles Robert Darwin, was born in on 12 February 1809 and events are taking place across the country to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth as part of Darwin 2009. It's one of two major Darwin milestones in 2009, because 24 November is the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous work, ‘The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection’.
Darwin has several connections with Devon. His voyage to the Galapagos Islands on the HMS Beagle, sailed from Devonport, Plymouth. Darwin spent five years as naturalist and companion to Captain Fitzroy on board HMS Beagle during a circumnavigation of the world. The Beagle finally sailed from Devonport on 27 December 1831 after having been twice driven back by heavy south-western gales. Darwin’s ideas - stimulated by his participation in this influential voyage - were finally published in 1859 as 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'.
Charles Darwin stayed in Torquay at Meadfoot House for six weeks in the summer of 1861 for a holiday with his daughter Henrietta who had been ill with typhoid the previous year. His visit is recorded by a blue plaque at 2 Hesketh Crescent. Whilst in Torquay he met the renowned Devonshire geologist William Pengelly. Archaeological evidence about the antiquity of humanity - which challenged Biblical ideas of the age of the earth - was found in Torquay’s Kents Cavern during excavations by William Pengelly in the 19th century.
During his visit to Torquay, Darwin was preparing his book, ‘The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilised by insects’. He studied orchids in the fields around the town and their pollination by bees and other insects. He had been introduced to Philip Henry Gosse who gave a lecture at the Linneaen Society [London] in 1855. Darwin corresponded with Gosse, a well respected, if self-taught, marine zoologist. In 1857 Gosse retired to Babbacombe Bay, near Torquay. Although later in 1863, Darwin wrote to Gosse, a keen grower of orchids, about their pollination, there is unfortunately no record of them having met during Darwin’s 1861 visit to Torquay.
Darwin showed that evolution - the idea that living organisms change form over time that the process could be controlled by natural selection - explains the origin of the varied species of animals and plants that inhabit the Earth.
The implication that humans are related to the rest of the animal kingdom transformed the way we see ourselves, and his theories had great implications for the fields of theology, history, literature, environmental science, archaeology and the visual arts.
Many events are taking place across Devon to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
- For more information on on International Darwin Day – 12th Feb visit http://www.darwinday.org/
Beginning in February of 2009 people are being encouraged to enjoy a unique opportunity to journey to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. As part of National Year of Reading, lovers of literature will be enjoying The Lost World for free in many locations across Devon, and the Country.
The Lost World Read 2009 will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Conan Doyle, and the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Thousands of free copies of Conan Doyle’s The Lost World will be distributed through libraries, schools and supporting partner organisations together with a ‘quick read’ edition and a paperback comic biography on the Life of Charles Darwin.