SOME GREAT NAMES IN BIOLOGY 405 



was sent to Edinburgh University to study medicine. Here the 

 dull lectures, coupled with his intense dislike for operations, made 

 him determine never to become a physician. But all this time he 

 showed his intense interest in natural history and took frequent 

 part in the discussions at the meetings of one of the student zo- 

 ological societies. 



In 1828 his father sent him to Cambridge to study for the 

 ministry. His three years at the university were wasted so far 

 as preparation for the ministry were concerned, but they were in- 

 valuable in shaping his future. He made the acquaintance of one 

 or two professors who were naturalists like himself, and in their 

 company he spent many happy hours in roaming over the coun- 

 tryside collecting beetles and other insects. In 1831 an event 

 occurred which changed his career and made Darwin one of the 

 world's greatest naturalists. He received word through one of 

 his professional friends that the position of naturalist on her 

 Majesty's ship Beagle was open for a trip around the world. Dar- 

 win applied for the position, was accepted, and shortly after started 

 on an eventful five years' trip around the world. He returned to 

 England a famous naturalist and spent the remainder of his long 

 and busy life producing books which have done more than those 

 of any other writer to account in a satisfactory way for the changes 

 of form and habits of plants and animals on the earth. His 

 theories established a foundation upon which plant and animal 

 breeders were able to work. 



His wonderful discovery of the doctrine of evolution was due 

 not only to his information and experimental evidence, but also 

 to an iron determination and undaunted energy. In spite of 

 almost constant illness brought about by eyestrain, he accom- 

 plished more than most well men have done. His life should 

 mean to us not so much the association of his name with the 

 Origin of Species or Plants and Animals under Domestication, 

 two of his most famous books, but rather that of a patient, 

 courteous, and brave gentleman who struggled with true English 

 pluck against the odds of disease and the attacks of hostile critics. 

 He gave to the world the proofs of the theory on which we to-day 

 base the progress of the world. Darwin lived long enough to see 



