What was the voyage of the HMS Beagle?

The second survey expedition of the HMS Beagle lasted from December 1831 to October 1836 and circumnavigated the globe. Commanded by Robert FitzRoy, the ship carried a young Charles Darwin as a supernumerary naturalist and geologist. Darwin's extensive land explorations and fossil discoveries during the nearly five-year voyage profoundly shaped his scientific theories.

What we know

• The second survey expedition of HMS Beagle took place from 27 December 1831 to 2 October 1836. [2]
• Robert FitzRoy commanded the HMS Beagle and sought a naturalist to accompany them. [2, 3]
• Charles Darwin spent three years and three months on land and 18 months at sea during the voyage. [2]
• Darwin's findings during the expedition undermined his belief that species are fixed and laid the groundwork for his theory of evolution by natural selection. [2]

Where to go next

• whoWho was Robert FitzRoy?
• what caused itHow did Charles Lyell's work influence Darwin?
• a case in pointWhat fossils did Darwin find at Punta Alta?
• the bigger pictureWhat was the era of scientific exploration?
• an unexpected connectionHow did the 2009 television series recreate the journey?

Sources

• [1]Second voyage of HMS Beagle (Wikidata Q1564366) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Second voyage of HMS Beagle · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Robert FitzRoy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Beagle: In Darwin's wake · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]European and American voyages of scientific exploration · CC BY-SA 4.0