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Charles Robert Darwin born Feb 12 1809 at Shrewsbury, son of Dr Robert Waring Darwin F.R.S. & grandson of Dr Erasmus Darwin F.R.S author of the Botanic Garden, Zoonomia &c & grandson by the mother's side of Josiah Wedgwood F.R.S the celebrated potter. Educated at Shrewsbury school under Dr Butler afterwards Bishop of Lichfield.

In the winter of 1825 went to the Edinburgh University for two years, & thence to Christ's College Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1831. In the autumn of 1831 Captain Fitz Roy R.N., having offered to give up part of his own cabin to any Naturalist who would accompany H.M.S Beagle in her surveying voyage & circumnavigation, Mr Darwin volunteered his services without salary, but on condition that he should have the entire disposal of his collections. The Beagle sailed from England Dec. 27 1831 & returned Oct. 22. 1836. Mr Darwin published a volume as part of Captain Fitz Roy's general work descriptive of the voyage, in 183g. This volume was republished in a modified form under the title of "Journal of researches" &c in 1845 & has since been several times reprinted. Between the year 1840 & 1843 Mr Darwin edited the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle giving an account of the habits & ranges of the various animals therein described. In aid of the publication of this & the following works the Lords of the Treasury granted £1000. In 1842 Mr Darwin published his work on "The Structure & distribution of Coral Reefs". In 1845, "Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands", & in 1846, "Geological Observations on South America". In 1851 & 1854 Mr Darwin published two volumes by aid of the Ray Society on Pedunculated & Sessile Cirripedes, & the Paleontographical Society published for him two volumes on the Fossil Species of the same class. Towards the close of 1859 Mr Darwin published his "Origin of Species, of which four English editions have appeared, & nine foreign editions in French, German, Dutch, Italian & Russian. Above one hundred reviews, pamphlets & separate books have been published on this work.

In 1862 Mr D. published a book "On the various contrivances by which Orchids are fertilized."

Of separate papers published by Mr D. the more important have been "On the connection of certain Volcanic Phenomena in South America"; "On the Distribution of Erratic boulders in S. America"; "on the formation of Mould by Earthworms" & on the Geology of the Falkland I's;" all published in the Trans, of the Geolog. Soc.

In the journal of the Linnean Soc. three papers by him have appeared on the Dimorphous & Trimorphous states of Primula, Linum & Lythrum; & one paper "On the Movements & habits of Climbing Plants", which has also been published as a separate work.

The Royal Soc. in 1853 awarded to Mr D. the Royal Medal, & in 1864, the Copley medal. In 1859 the Geolog. Soc. awarded him the Wollaston medal.

Mr D. married his cousin Emma Wedgwood in the beginning of 1839 by whom he has a large family.

He has lived for the last 26 years at Down near Farnborough Kent, & is a magistrate for that county.