Charles Darwin publishes his seminal book, On…

Charles Darwin publishes his seminal book, On the Origin of Species, which establishes evolution by common descent as the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature.

Introducing the theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection, the book is controversial because it contradicts religious beliefs which underlie the prevailing theories of biology.

Darwin's book, published on November 24, 1859, is the culmination of evidence he had accumulated on the voyage of the Beagle in the 1830s and expanded through continuing investigations and experiments since his return.

The book will immediately sells out its initial print run.