Beagle and the Galápagos

On this day in 1835 the HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reached the Galápagos Islands. The ship landed at Chatham or San Cristobal, the easternmost of the archipelago. Darwin and the Beagle would remain in the Galapagos for five weeks, from 15 September to 20 October 1835.

Darwin spent time on the islands now known as San Cristóbal, Floreana, Isabela and Santiago. Through studying the geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils on the islands and at other locations visited on the 5 year voyage, Darwin began to formulate his theory of natural selection. His book On the Origin of Species was published on 24th November 1859 and was revolutionary at the time. It established the evolutionary descent with modification as the dominant scientific explanation for the diversification of nature. The book contained evidence that he had gathered during the Beagle expedition and his subsequent findings from research, correspondence and experimentation.
 
Darwin is now regarded as one of the most influential figures in human history and is honoured with a burial at Westminster Abbey.

This scene was built by James Pegrum as part of a series of models on world history. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see them first.