Specimens Collected by Charles Darwin

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During his famous voyage aboard HMS Beagle (1831–1836), Charles Darwin (1809–1882) collected an extraordinary diversity of specimens, including organisms from different biological kingdoms. These collections, together with specimens gathered throughout his later scientific work, provide a remarkable record of the natural world as Darwin encountered it in the nineteenth century. The geographical information associated with these specimens is of particular scientific and historical value. Reconstructing their original collection localities allows these records to be connected with modern biodiversity data, providing historical baselines for studies of biogeography, biodiversity, ecology and environmental change. This project aims to recover the geographical context of Darwin's specimens, helping to unlock the scientific value of these historic collections and reconnect them with the places where they were collected.