Darwin Day: Simple Ways To Observe, Interesting Facts About The Famed Naturalist

Darwin Day, observed on Feb. 12 annually, commemorates the life and work of famed naturalist Charles Darwin. Today, science enthusiasts can celebrate the influence and inspiration brought about by the man's work.

Darwin Day is celebrated on the day of the English scientist's birth in 1809. Born to a wealthy family, Darwin initially went to medical school but his interest in natural history would eventually lead him to the voyage on the British Royal Navy ship, the HMS Beagle, where he was employed as a naturalist.

He collected various specimens during this trip and continued with his work even after his return to England in 1836. By 1859, more than 20 years later, his groundbreaking book "On the Origin of Species" was published and his theory of evolution — though they were controversial at the time — became rather popular.

On Darwin Day, also known as International Darwin Day, we celebrate not just Darwin's life and works and how they continue to impact science today, but also the important works of many scientists, especially biologists, across the world.

"International Darwin Day...will inspire people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin," noted International Darwin Day Foundation. "It will be a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being."

Today, people can celebrate by learning more about Darwin's natural selection theory, or perhaps spend some time refreshing their minds about the basics of biology. Who knows? You may even learn a new thing or two.

You can even look for various events to be held on the day. For instance, there will be a Darwin Family Day at Cayuga Nature Center in Ithaca, New York, and a Darwin Day Party at the Monroe Township Library in Monroe Township, New Jersey.

People can also celebrate by getting to know the naturalist a little bit more. Let's look at some interesting facts about Darwin. (Courtesy: National Today, National Geographic and History)

• Charles Darwin shares the same birthday as another famous figure — Abraham Lincoln. The two were both born on Feb. 12, 1809. Though Darwin was born in a "grand" house, Lincoln was born in a log cabin.
• Darwin dropped out of medical school. He reportedly found it "dull" and felt sick at the sight of blood.
• During Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle, he was able to collect various plant, rock and animal specimens and even fossils. He didn't keep them to himself though. He reportedly shared the fossils with other scientists.
• Darwin doesn't seem quite romantic. When he was deciding whether to marry his cousin Emma Wedgwood, he created a list of the pros and cons of marriage. The pro side included "children," while the con side reportedly included items like "loss of time."
• Darwin was featured on the British 10-pound note in 2000, but it was withdrawn in 2018.