 Charles Darwin was born
February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He was born the same day and year as Abraham
Lincoln. He had lived in Shrewsbury all his life. Young Charles had four sisters and one
brother. As he grew older Charles came to enjoy hunting, science and biology. In 1831
Charles graduated from college at Cambridge University. Shortly after he returned from his voyage on the HMS Beagle in 1836, science, botany, and biology weren’t the only things on his mind. He was in love with his cousin, Emma Wedgwood. Charles loved Emma, but he got stomach aches just thinking about marrying her. Charles decided to get married the same way he did everything; he made a chart. Charles made a "T" chart, one column saying, "marry." One column saying "not marries." The marry column won but he still wasn’t sure. Charles married Emma Wedgwood on January 29, 1839. That same year they moved into what they called an ugly house in London. They had ten children in later life. Darwin’s grandfather, Dr. Erasmus, a physician, scientist, poet, and inventor started the Lunar Society in 1771. The society was a science discussion group. He probably met Benjamin Franklin some time in the Society. Erasmus’ son Robert married Susannah Wedgwood. |