This year marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and 150 years since the publication of The Origin of Species, Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection that shook the scientific establishment and gave us the foundation of modern biology.
In a free public lecture on 14th November, Professor Trevor Norton will look at the man who would transform our view of the world and of ourselves, while drawing parallels with the life and works of Darwin’s friend, Edward Forbes.
"Both men" says Darwin, "were failures at University and sought adventure on voyages of exploration; their restless, enquiring minds couldn’t fail to make startling discoveries.
"As a young man, Darwin had a hectic social life and enjoyed hunting, shooting and membership of the 'Glutton Club' for esoteric eating.
"This amusing portrait of him will focus less on the sad-eyed gentleman we see in the old photographs and more on the young buck who was 'hot with spiders', 'rode like a gaucho' and whose party piece was to snuff out candles with shots from his pistol.
"It will be a pleasure to recount the excitement of Darwin’s early life and later his terrible fear of revealing his theory, for which he was mercilessly lampooned.
"I will also reveal the important research of Forbes whose early death curtailed the career of someone destined to be one of the greatest biologists of the 19th Century."
‘Apes, Angels and Expeditions’ is presented by Manx National Heritage at the Manx Museum Lecture Theatre on Saturday 14th November at 2.30pm as part of the popular winter lecture series.
Later in November, visitors to the Manx Museum will receive a further insight into the world’s natural environment in the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ exhibition.
This special exhibition opens at the Manx Museum on 21st November and will feature images from the World’s premier wildlife photography competition, brought to the Island by Manx National Heritage with the kind support of local Manx accountancy firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Pictured: 'Trouble-maker' - a winning image from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition captured by Stefano Unterthiner, featuring Indonesian macaques in Tangkoko National Park.
