CHARLES DARWIN - GEOLOGIST

Although most people think of Charles Darwin as a biologist and associate him almost exclusively with the theory of the evolution of species, Darwin was first, if not foremost, a geologist. He was heavily influenced by Adam Sedgwick and Charles Lyell and became an established geologist during his 5-year voyage on HMS Beagle. In his letters and notebooks, Darwin frequently referred to himself as a geologist, "I a geologist have illdefined notion of land covered with ocean..." (Darwin notebook M. No. 40, 1838). Darwin belonged to the Geological Society of London and was elected Secretary of the society in 1838. Along with his geologic observations, geologic cross sections, and stratigraphic and geomorphic sketches, Darwin also produced the first geological map of southern South America. Darwin published more than 20 geology articles and in 1859, the same year as the publication of Origin of Species, he was awarded the Wollaston Medal--the highest honor bestowed by the Geological Society of London in recognition of his scientific contributions to the field of Geology. In fact, it appears that his push to disseminate his geological work, including the three geology volumes of the Beagle Voyage and related geology texts and articles, delayed the publication of Origin of Species. Within his notebooks, correspondence and publications there are numerous examples of Darwin's insatiable curiosity of landscape evolution and surface processes. For instance, Darwin's interpretation of the evolution of volcanic island atolls “forming as land sunk” and his measurements of raised marine terraces in South America and elsewhere attests to his interest in the monitoring of evolution of landscapes over time. Darwin understood “evolution” – first of landscapes and only later of species.