Exploring Darwin's Voyage: The Boat That Shaped History

The HMS Beagle was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, constructed at a cost of £7,803 and launched on 11 May 1820 from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames. The second voyage of the HMS Beagle is notable for carrying the recently graduated naturalist Charles Darwin around the world. The specimens and observations accumulated on this voyage gave Darwin the essential materials for his theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin later called the Beagle voyage by far the most important event in my life, saying it determined my whole career.

HMS Beagle's design and construction

The HMS Beagle, the third vessel to bear this name, was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. Designed by Sir Henry Peake in 1807, the Beagle was one of over 100 ships of this class. The Beagle's keel was laid in June 1818, and it was launched on 11 May 1820, from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames. The vessel was constructed at a cost of £7,803.

The Beagle was a flush-decked ship, 90 feet 4 inches (about 28 metres) long and 24 feet 6 inches (about 8 metres) wide. It was originally designed as a two-masted vessel, with two masts carrying square sails and a fore-and-aft driver on the main mast. It was armed with eight 18-pounder carronades and two 6-pounder long guns.

In 1825, the Beagle was converted to a bark rig by the addition of a mizzenmast, a small third mast. This modification was common at the time, as it allowed ships to be handled by smaller crews. A forecastle and a large poop cabin were also added during this refit. The poop cabin provided a spacious and well-lit area for chart-making and other work, and the forecastle helped to keep the main deck drier and safer by deflecting large waves.

The Beagle underwent another extensive refit in 1831, in preparation for its second voyage. During this refit, the height of the main deck was raised by 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimetres), improving headroom and reducing the risk of the ship becoming top-heavy and capsizing in heavy weather. The hull was reinforced with a 2-inch layer of fir and new copper sheathing, adding about 15 tons to its displacement.

The Beagle was one of the first ships to be fitted with a lightning conductor, invented by William Snow Harris. Captain Robert FitzRoy, who commanded the Beagle during its second voyage, spared no expense in outfitting the ship. In addition to the lightning conductor, the Beagle was equipped with extra-strong rigging, heavy-duty ropes and chains, and 22 chronometers. FitzRoy also added extra anchors and large trysails between the masts.

Overall, the design and construction of the HMS Beagle reflected the transition the Royal Navy was undergoing in the early 19th century, from large ships of the line to smaller, more manoeuvrable vessels. The Beagle's design as a 10-gun brig-sloop made it well-suited for surveying and exploration, and it played a pivotal role in the development of Darwin's theories on evolution and natural selection during its famous second voyage.

Darwin's experience on the voyage

Charles Darwin joined the HMS Beagle as a naturalist on its second voyage, which lasted from 1831 to 1836. The voyage was originally planned to last two years, but ended up taking almost five. Darwin spent most of this time exploring on land, spending only 18 months of the voyage aboard the ship.

Darwin's time on the voyage was also marked by significant personal growth and development. He began the voyage as a young university graduate planning a career as a clergyman, but returned to England as an established naturalist, well-known for his astonishing collections. In addition, Darwin's experiences on the voyage helped shape his scientific theories on evolution and natural selection. He was exposed to a variety of cultures and environments, including the "untamed" humans on Tierra del Fuego, which challenged his worldview and prompted him to seek explanations for the differences he observed.

Darwin's fossil discoveries during the voyage also played a significant role in his development as a scientist. He made several trips to the cliffs at Bahía Blanca and Port St. Julian, where he discovered huge bones of extinct mammals such as rhinoceroses, mastodons, and giant ground sloths. These discoveries sparked Darwin's interest in the primeval world and the causes of species extinction.

Overall, Darwin's experience on the voyage of the HMS Beagle was transformative, providing him with a wealth of knowledge and experiences that shaped his personal and professional life.

Darwin's work and findings

Charles Darwin's work and findings aboard the HMS Beagle were extensive and would ultimately shape his career. During the voyage, Darwin spent most of his time exploring on land, travelling and researching geology, natural history, and ethnology. He kept a detailed diary, which he commonly called "my Journal", and made notes on his observations of biology, geology, and anthropology.

Darwin's notes and observations accumulated during the voyage gave him the essential materials for his theory of evolution by natural selection. He collected thousands of specimens, including fossils, plants, and animals, and crated and sent them home for further study. He also made important fossil discoveries, finding huge bones of extinct mammals such as rhinoceroses, mastodons, cow-sized armadillos, and giant ground sloths. These discoveries pushed him to think about the primeval world and what caused the giant beasts to die out.

Darwin's observations of the land and sea further supported his theories. He observed that the land was changing and rising, which was confirmed by his time in the Andes Mountains. He also saw evidence of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, which demonstrated the forces that shape the Earth. Additionally, he noted the distribution of plants and animals in South America and the Galapagos, which would later lead him to question how species originated.

Darwin's experiences and findings during the voyage provided him with a lifetime of material to ponder and the seeds for his theories, which he would work on for the rest of his life.

HMS Beagle's crew

The HMS Beagle was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. It was launched on 11 May 1820 from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames. The ship was designed as a flush-decked, 10-gun brig and carried eight 18-pounder carronades and two 6-pounder long guns.

The HMS Beagle had a crew of 74 when it set sail on 27 December 1831, under the command of Captain Robert FitzRoy. The crew included 10 officers, four midshipmen and volunteers, 38 seamen and boys, eight marines, and eight supernumeraries (including Charles Darwin).

Officers

The officers on board the HMS Beagle included:

• Captain Robert FitzRoy
• First Lieutenant John Wickham
• Second Lieutenant Bartholomew James Sulivan
• Mate Robert McCormick (Ship's Surgeon and naturalist)
• Mate Alexander Derbishire
• Mate John Lort Stokes (Assistant Surveyor)
• Mate Robert Hamond
• Mate John Edward Johnson
• Master Edward Chaffers
• Midshipmen Philip Gidley King, Alexander Burns Usborne, John Johnson, John Lort Stokes, Arthur Mellersh, Peter Benson Stewart, and Charles Forsyth

Seamen and Boys

The seamen and boys on board the HMS Beagle included:

• John Clements Wickham
• John Davis
• Richard Williams
• Benjamin Blight
• Jonathan May (Carpenter)
• George James Stebbing (Instrument Maker)
• Robert Davis (Captain's Boy)
• Charles Musters (Volunteer 1st Class)
• William Williams (Boatswain's Mate)
• James Smith (Boatswain's Mate)
• John Peterson (Quartermaster)
• White (Quartermaster)
• Bennett (Quartermaster)
• Henderson (Quartermaster)
• Heard (Forecastle Man)
• Bosworthick (Forecastle Man and Ropemaker)
• Tanner (Forecastle Man)
• Harper (Forecastle Man and Sailmaker)
• Wills (Forecastle Man and Armourer)
• Evans (Foretop Man)
• Rensfrey (Foretop Man)
• Door (Foretop Man)
• Wright (Foretop Man)
• Robson (Foretop Man)
• MacCurdy (Foretop Man)
• Hare (Foretop Man)
• Clarke (Foretop Man)
• Phipps (Main Top Man)
• Joseph Blight (Main Top Man)
• Moore (Main Top Man)
• Hughes (Main Top Man)
• Benjamin Johns (Main Top Man)
• Sloane (Main Top Man)
• Chadwick (Main Top Man)
• David Johns (Main Top Man)
• Williams (Main Top Man)
• Childs (Main Top Man)
• Rogers (Carpenter's Crew)
• Rowe (Carpenter's Crew)
• James (Carpenter's Crew)
• Stebbing (Carpenter's Crew and Instrument Mender)
• Ash (Gunroom Steward)
• Fuller (Captain's Steward)
• Edward Davis (Officer's Cook)
• George Phillips (Ship's Cook)
• Lester (Cooper)
• Syms Covington (Fiddler and Boy to the Poop Cabin, later Darwin's servant)
• Billet (Gunroom Boy)

Royal Marines

The Royal Marines on board the HMS Beagle included:

• Beazeley (Sergeant)
• Williams
• Jones
• Burgess
• Bute
• Doyle
• Martin
• Middleton
• Prior (Midshipmen's Steward)

Supernumeraries

The supernumeraries on board the HMS Beagle (including Darwin) were:

• Charles Darwin (Naturalist)
• Fuegia Basket (Passenger)
• Jemmy Button (Passenger)
• York Minster (Passenger)
• Augustus Earle (Artist, until 1832)
• Conrad Martens (Artist, from 1833 to 1834)
• Benjamin Bynoe (Assistant Surgeon, from April 1832)
• John Edward Dring (Acting Purser, from June 1834)
• Duff (Passenger, from February 1836)

HMS Beagle's legacy

The HMS Beagle was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. It was launched on May 11, 1820, from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames near London. The Beagle was designed as a flush-decked, 10-gun brig, intended for scouting, courier duty, and other light assignments. It was one of over 100 ships of this class.

The Beagle's legacy is closely tied to its role in Charles Darwin's scientific discoveries and the development of his theory of evolution. The ship's second voyage, from 1831 to 1836, is particularly notable for carrying the recently graduated naturalist Charles Darwin around the world. During this voyage, Darwin travelled and researched geology, natural history, and ethnology onshore while the ship conducted survey work. The specimens and observations accumulated by Darwin during this voyage provided the essential materials for his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he published in 1859 as "On the Origin of Species".

Darwin's experiences and findings on board the Beagle led him to publish his famous diary journal, known as "The Voyage of the Beagle". This work brought him considerable fame and played a pivotal role in the formation of his scientific theories. The popularity of Darwin's account led to multiple reprints and revised editions, with titles such as "Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle".

In addition to Darwin's published works, the Beagle's second voyage also produced valuable charts from surveying by Captain Robert FitzRoy. FitzRoy, an able commander and meticulous surveyor, recognised the importance of having a naturalist on board to take advantage of 'visiting distant countries yet little known'. He is commemorated with his own area in the Shipping Forecast. Unfortunately, ill health and depression led him to take his own life in 1865.

The Beagle's third voyage, from 1837 to 1843, was commanded by Lieutenants John Clements Wickham and John Lort Stokes. They conducted the first full surveys of the coasts of Australia, including Port Darwin and the Fitzroy River. During this voyage, the Gulf of Carpentaria was explored, revealing two major rivers: the Albert and the Flinders.

The Beagle's legacy extends beyond Darwin's theories and publications. The ship's name has been used for a British Mars space probe, "Beagle 2", launched in 2003 to explore the possibility of life on Mars. Additionally, the Royal Navy has continued to use the name for six subsequent ships, including a purpose-built coastal survey vessel launched in 1967.

While the original Beagle was broken up in 1870, there is evidence suggesting that its remains may still exist. Investigations in 2003 by a team from the University of St. Andrews found indications of a ship's hull deep within the mud in the River Roach, Essex, where the Beagle was last in service. The site has been recognised as nationally important by Historic England, serving as a reminder of the extraordinary voyage that led to Darwin's groundbreaking scientific breakthrough.

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