The reception of Charles Darwin in the Kingdom of Isabella II of Spain before the Darwinism (1838-1859)

Authors

  • Francesc Xavier Vall Solaz Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Keywords:

Charles Darwin, Evolutionism, Darwinism, Natural Sciences.

Abstract

Although Darwinism is a consequence of the impact of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859), Charles Darwin, coming from a lineage of scientists whose name had been popularized above all by his grandfather Erasmus, had already achieved fame not only as an explorer, but also as a prestigious naturalist, thanks mainly to the studies that had generated the journey of the Beagle. Both the data provided and his insightful observations became a source used in several fields: geology, botany, zoology, anthropology, palaeontology… In Spain, despite the fact that the boom of Darwinism occurred during the Democratic Sexennium (1868-1874) and its controversy would continue, Darwin was mentioned prior to his great work, since at least 1838, nevertheless usually indirectly. He already enjoyed considerable scientist recognition, not yet conditioned by the ideological assessments, even if some of his youth discoveries served for the elaboration of the theory of natural selection.

Keywords: Charles Darwin, Evolutionism, Darwinism, Natural Sciences.

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