Posts Tagged ‘natural selection’
Asa Gray: The Birth of American Botany’s Greatest Voice
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. November 18, 1810 On this day, Asa Gray (1810-1888) was born. He was a figure who would become America’s preeminent botanist and one of the most influential scientists of the 19th century. Born…
Read MoreCharles Darwin and the Landmark Release of On the Origin of Species
The Origin of Species November 24, 1859 On this day, Charles Darwin’s the Origin of Species reached bookstores. Over twenty years had passed since Charles departed on the HMS Beagle for a five-year voyage around the world. On this revelatory trip, Charles discovered the building blocks to his evolutionary theory in the fossils and diverse…
Read MoreAsa Gray: Pioneering American Botanist, Darwin’s Confidant, and Defender of Evolution
For Team Darwin November 18, 1810 Today is the birthday of one of the leading American botanists of his time and a member of Team Darwin, Asa Gray, who was born on this day in 1810. In 1857, Asa Gray received a confidential letter from Charles Darwin. In the letter, Darwin confided: “I will enclose…
Read MoreAlfred Russel Wallace: The Overlooked Father of Natural Selection
Another Theory of Natural Selection Today is the birthday of the British naturalist Alfred Wallace. Wallace developed his theory of natural selection quite independently of Charles Darwin – although he did send his theory to Darwin. Wallace’s work prompted Darwin to get serious about publishing his 20-year-old idea. In 1858, both Wallace and Darwin’s work…
Read MoreAsa Gray: Pioneer American Botanist, Harvard Professor, and Early Supporter of Darwin
Flora of North America Today is the birthday of one of the leading American botanists of his time and a member of Team Darwin, Asa Gray, who was born on this day in 1810. In 1857, Asa Gray received a confidential letter from Charles Darwin. In the letter, Darwin confided: “I will enclose the briefest…
Read MoreCharles Darwin in the Galapagos: The Plants That Inspired Natural Selection
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection 1835 Charles Darwin arrived at the Galapagos Islands on board a ship called the HMS Beagle. Once he’s on the islands, Darwin begins to check out all of the different and unique plants, and it gets him thinking. The experience basically shapes his theory of natural selection. …
Read MoreAsa GrayAsa Gray and Charles Darwin: The Confidential Letter That Laid the Groundwork for Evolution
A Confidential Concept Today, in 1857, Harvard botanist Asa Gray received a confidential letter from Charles Darwin. In the letter, Darwin wrote: “I will enclose the briefest abstract of my notions on the means by which nature makes her species…I ask you not to mention my doctrine.” Two years later, Darwin revealed his concept of…
Read MoreThe Gift That Changed Science: When Henslow Sent Darwin Around the World
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. July 12, 1831 Dearest readers and garden enthusiasts, gather round for I have the most delicious morsel of scientific history to share with you today! On this day, a most pivotal exchange took…
Read MoreHewett Cottrell Watson: The Father of British Plant Geography and Darwin’s Forerunner
by Hewett Cottrell Watson 21 Nov 1859 My dear Sir Once [I started] to read the ‘Origin’ I could not rest [until] I had galloped through [all of it]. I shall now begin to re-read it more deliberately. Meantime I am tempted to write you [my] first impressions… 1st. Your leading idea will assuredly become…
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