Charles Darwin is famously equated as the person who conceived the theory of evolution but there’s another English naturalist, Alfred Wallace, who developed the theory, independent of, but simultaneously with, Charles Darwin.
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, and the Theory of Evolution
Charles Darwin (1809-1882), with Alfred Wallace (1823-1913), deduced in the theory of evolution that species could adapt, that those best suited to their environments have the best chance of survival.
The evolution theories in which this phenomenon was explained are central to the modern understanding of the evolution as the unifying theory of the life sciences.
Darwin's HMS Beagle Voyage
It was during Darwin’s biological studies in Cambridge when the botanist John Henslow recommended him as naturalist to HMS Beagle, captained by Robert Fitzroy. At that time, the voyage was about to start for a scientific survey of South American seas.
Darwin’s five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist. His most famous two months were spent on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. He found over 70 species of plant, of which many of them were not found anywhere in the world.
During this passage, Darwin was in awe of the geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils. His observations and theories supported the uniformitarian ideas of Scottish geologist, Charles Lyell. Darwin's subsequent publication of his voyage journal made him famous as author. In 1836, he returned to Falmouth with loads of notes and the specimens that he had collected.
Darwin investigated the transmutation of species. In 1838, he conceived his theory of natural selection. From 1842, Darwin lived at Downe, Kent, where he enjoyed his garden and fowls, at the same time, he devoted himself to science and studies on the origin of species, his greatest work.
Darwin and Wallace Connection
Unlike Darwin, Wallace seemed to have bad lucks in his expeditions to South Africa, including his ship catching fire, then sinking on his return voyage but was fortunate to be rescued. In 1854, Wallace set off again, this time to the Far East. Like Darwin, he was a prodigious collector who also amassed loads of specimens.
In 1855, Wallace wrote out his ideas in his essay, “On the Law which has Regulated the Introduction of New Species” that set out the evolution principles. Initially, Darwin was unimpressed when Charles Lyell showed it to him.
Wallace’s Essay, Stimulus to Darwin’s Writing of Theory of Evolution
The stimulus to write his thoughts finally came from a letter he received from Alfred Wallace in June 18, 1858. It was in an essay form, “On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type.” Like Darwin, Wallace believed in the situation of “survival of the fittest” and that the fittest would pass on their good features to future generation.
In 1858, Alfred Wallace sent Darwin a memoir on the Malay Archipelago, with a similar theory of natural selection or “survival of the fittest” that Darwin described. Unknown to Darwin, Wallace developed similar ideas. The two decided to form a joint publication: Wallace’s letter and Darwin’s work presented it at the Linnean Society in July 1, 1858.
Over a year later, Darwin publishes The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection – or the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life. In 1871, he published the Descent of Man.
An Insight to the Darwin-Wallace Scientific Partnership on Evolution Theory
Charles Robert Darwin was a prominent English naturalist who achieved fame by convincing the world that the origin of species developed by natural and sexual selection over time. Together with Alfred Wallace, also an English naturalist, Darwin originated the theory of evolution.
Sources:
Farndon, John, etal. The Great Scientists. Capella / Arcturus, 2005.
Moore, Pete. E=MC²: The Great Ideas That Shaped Our World. London: Quintet Publishing, 2002.
The Knowledge Book, Victoria, Australia: Hardie Grant Books, 2007.
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