Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

4-25-2025

Keywords

Anglican country parson, animal specimens, beetles, birth, Charles Darwin, early interest, evolution, father, geology, medical school, medicine, naturalist, opportunity, poor (village community), Robert and Susannah Darwin, school enrollment, scientific interests, Shropshire (England), study of taxidermy, zoology

Disciplines

Developmental Psychology

Abstract

Charles Robert Darwin was born February 12th, 1809 in Shropshire, England, the fifth child of six to Robert and Susannah Darwin. Although Darwin is best known for his work as a naturalist, he had an early interest in medicine working with his father treating the poor in the village of his birth. Though he enrolled in medical school, he found the study of taxidermy more engaging than his medical studies. His interest soon shifted towards natural history, to the cataloging of beetles and eventually geology. He subsequently dropped the pursuit of medicine to finishing his coursework to become an Anglican country parson instead. Before that could happen, an opportunity presented itself to allow him to pursue his scientific interests that he simply couldn’t pass up.

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