Darwin elected F.G.S.; Lyell's high opinion of him; secre-
tary of the Geological Society, Feb. 1838-41; reads
numerous papers before the Society; elected F.R.S., Jan.
24, 1839; marries his cousin, Miss Wedgwood, early in
1839; "Journal of Researches," published 1839, highly
praised in Quarterly Review; publication of zoology of the
Beagle (1839-43); extraordinary animals described therein;
other results of the voyage; plants described by Hooker
and Berkeley; work on "Coral Reefs "published 1842 ;
Darwin's new theory at once accepted; subsequent views
of Semper, Dana, and Murray; second and third parts of
Geology of Beagle ("Volcanic Islands" and "South
America "); other geological papers; Darwin settles at
Down House, near Beckenham, 1842; appears at Oxford
meeting of British Association, 1847 ; contributes
chapter on Geology to Herschel's manual of Scientific
Enquiry; publishes great works on recent and fossil
cirripedia, 1851-4; receives Royal Medal of Royal
Society, 1853, and Wollaston Medal of Geological Society,
1859
Confusion in description of species; labours of Professors Owen
and Huxley; Darwin's ideas on the origin of species germi-
nated during the voyage of the Beagle; he collected facts,
1837-42; drew up a sketch, 1842; enlarged it in 1844
previous speculations on the subject; views of Erasmus
Darwin, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, and Lamarck; Darwin's
opinion of Lamarck; influence of Lyell; influence of