June 18, 1858: Charles Darwin Receives Wallace’s Paper on Natural Selection

On June 18, 1858, Charles Darwin received a manuscript from Alfred Russel Wallace while staying at his country home in Down, Kent, England. This pivotal correspondence significantly influenced the scientific discourse on evolution. Wallace’s paper, written during his expedition in the Malay Archipelago, detailed a theory of evolution through natural selection that closely paralleled Darwin’s own unpublished ideas.

Context Leading Up to the Event

Charles Darwin had been developing his theory of evolution for over two decades, meticulously gathering evidence and formulating his ideas through observations and specimens collected during his voyage on HMS Beagle. Although he had drafted a substantial part of his seminal work, “On the Origin of Species,” he had deferred publication, primarily due to the potential controversy and the formidable task of compiling comprehensive empirical support.

Meanwhile, Alfred Russel Wallace, a naturalist and explorer, independently conceived the idea of natural selection. While suffering from malaria in the Malay Archipelago, Wallace conceptualized the evolutionary process by which species adapt and survive in changing environments. His insights culminated in an essay summarizing his theory, which he sent to Darwin for feedback, unaware of Darwin’s similar research endeavors.

Key Events on June 18, 1858

Upon receiving Wallace’s paper, Darwin experienced a significant moral and scientific dilemma. Wallace’s essay crisply articulated principles of natural selection, echoing the conclusions Darwin had reached years earlier. This development put Darwin under immense pressure, as he was deeply concerned about the priority and independent discovery of the theory.

Darwin sought guidance from his close scientific confidants, Sir Charles Lyell and Dr. Joseph Dalton Hooker. They suggested a joint presentation of both Wallace’s and Darwin’s findings to the Linnean Society of London. As a result, Darwin’s and Wallace’s works were presented together on July 1, 1858, establishing their co-discovery of the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Aftermath and Significance

The joint presentation at the Linnean Society marked a historic moment in the field of natural science. While the initial reception was subdued, overshadowed by the death of Linnaeus’s son, Carl Linnaeus the Younger, the publication “On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection” set the stage for the paradigm-shifting impact of Darwin’s later publication.

In 1859, Darwin published “On the Origin of Species,” which provided extensive evidence and elaboration on the theory that he and Wallace espoused. This work fundamentally transformed biological sciences, laying the foundation for modern evolutionary biology.

The cooperative acknowledgment of their concurrent discoveries highlights the interplay of scientific collaboration and independent insight, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that drives scientific progress. Wallace graciously accepted Darwin’s lead in the subsequent publications and famously referred to Darwin’s work as a “large, enabling canvas” for the theory of natural selection.