https://www.earthmagazine.org/tags/charles-darwin/ Recent content in Charles Darwin on EARTH Magazine Hugo en-US American Geosciences Institute. All rights reserved. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500 https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/benchmarks-november-22-1859-origin-species-published/ Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500 https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/benchmarks-november-22-1859-origin-species-published/ <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/benchmarks-november-22-1859-origin-species-published/i-2f4-7d9-b-17.jpg" alt="Ben Tillman, University of Sydney Library" loading="eager" decoding="async"> <figcaption>Ben Tillman, University of Sydney Library</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/benchmarks-november-22-1859-origin-species-published/i-2f5-7d9-b-17.jpg" alt="Asa Gray was one of Charles Darwin&#39;s most vocal proponents in the United States in the late 19th century. Library of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>Asa Gray was one of Charles Darwin&#39;s most vocal proponents in the United States in the late 19th century. Library of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University</figcaption> </figure> <p>About a decade ago, I was fortunate enough to hold in my hands a first edition of Charles Darwin&rsquo;s &ldquo;On the Origin of Species.&rdquo; The green cover was cracked and frayed. The cardboard backing protruded through the torn corners. I put the book down and stared at it in awe. The owner of this book was Asa Gray, one of America&rsquo;s greatest botanists, an important early American supporter of natural selection, and a friend of Darwin&rsquo;s.</p>