Darwin in 1880, still working on his contributions
to evolutionary thought that had had an
enormous effect on many fields of science.
Commemoration
During Darwin’s lifetime, many species and geographical features were given his name.
An expanse of water adjoining the Beagle Channel was named Darwin Sound by Robert FitzRoy after Darwin’s prompt action, along with two or three of the men, saved them from being marooned on a nearby shore when a collapsing glacier caused a large wave that would have swept away their boats, and the nearby Mount Darwin in the Andes was named in celebration of Darwin’s 25th birthday.
When the Beagle was surveying Australia in 1839, Darwin’s friend John Lort Stokes sighted a natural harbour which the ship’s captain Wickham named Port Darwin. The settlement of Palmerston founded there in 1869 was officially renamed Darwin in 1911. It became the capital city of Australia’s Northern Territory, which also boasts Charles Darwin University[ and Charles Darwin National Park.
Darwin College, Cambridge, founded in 1964, was named in honour of the Darwin family, partially because they owned some of the land it was on.
Although related to American Emberizidae or Tanagers rather than finches, the group of species related to those Darwin found in the Galápagos Islands became popularly known as “Darwin's finches” following publication of David Lack's book of that name in 1947, fostering inaccurate legends about their significance to his work.
In 1992, Darwin was ranked #16 on Michael H. Hart’s list of the most influential figures in history.
Darwin came fourth in the 100 Greatest Britons poll sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public.
In 2000 Darwin’s image appeared on the Bank of England ten pound note, replacing Charles Dickens. His impressive, luxuriant beard (which was reportedly difficult to forge) was said to be a contributory factor to the bank’s choice.
The Linnean Society of London has commemorated Darwin's achievements by the award of the Darwin-Wallace Medal since 1908.
As a humorous celebration of evolution, the annual Darwin Award is bestowed on individuals who “improve
our gene pool by removing themselves from it.”
Numerous biographies of Darwin have been written, and the 1980 biographical novel The Origin by Irving Stone gives a closely researched fictional account of Darwin’s life from the age of 22 onwards.