Final answer:
Erasmus Darwin was Charles Darwin's grandfather, known for his early ideas on evolution. It was Charles Darwin, however, who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection, influenced by his observations during the voyage of the HMS Beagle, as well as earlier thinkers like Lamarck, Lyell, and Malthus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Who was Erasmus Darwin?
Erasmus Darwin was the grandfather of Charles Darwin, an English physician, poet, and natural philosopher who outlined early ideas of evolution in his work, even before Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. Erasmus Darwin's work in various fields including botany and medicine was instrumental, and he speculated on the possibility of common descent of all animals from a single ancestor in his book Zoonomia. However, it was Charles Darwin who fully developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Charles Darwin: The Explorer and Scholar
Charles Darwin, the grandson of Erasmus Darwin, revolutionized biology with his theory of natural selection. After studying at the University of Edinburgh and Christ's College, Cambridge, Darwin joined the HMS Beagle on a five-year scientific expedition. The critical observations he made of the Galápagos finches and the varied species across the Galápagos Islands significantly contributed to his development of the theory of evolution by natural selection. The differences in finches' beaks across different islands illustrated how species adapted to their specific environments.
Influences on Darwin's Evolutionary Thought
Darwin's evolutionary thinking was influenced by earlier scientists such as Jean Baptiste Lamarck, who proposed that species change over time; geologist Charles Lyell, whose work suggested the Earth was far older than previously thought; and Thomas Malthus, whose observations on population growth and resources linked to Darwin's ideas on natural selection. Additionally, Darwin's anti-slavery stance was reinforced after meeting John Edmonstone, who taught Darwin taxidermy and about the cruelty of slavery.
Charles Darwin's Contributions
Despite the controversies, Darwin's theories based on his observations during the voyage of the Beagle ultimately laid the foundation for modern biological science. His publication, Origin of the Species, became one of the most influential scientific works, facilitating a paradigm shift in how we understand the process of evolution.