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Newsletter No. 4: Giant leaps
charles lyell
14-May-1856: Darwin starts writing his ‘big species book’
On 14 May 1856, Charles Darwin recorded in his journal that, on the advice of his friend Charles Lyell, after almost 20 years exploring the subject, he had finally begun writing a ‘sketch’ of his ideas on species.
20-Feb-1835: Darwin witnesses an earthquake
On 20th February 1835, while taking a rest in a wood in Valvidia, Southern Chile, Charles Darwin experienced a major earthquake.
10-Jan-1860: Darwin to Lyell
On 10th January 1860, Charles Darwin wrote to his good friend the geologist Charles Lyell, humorously describing mankind’s ancestor.
Such modest ambitions, Mr Darwin!
In 1841, Darwin's ill-health evidently left him with low expectations of his future ability to contribute to science.