The HMS Beagle

Originally posted at ouhos.org, the now-discontinued blog of the OU History of Science Collections. Neither this post nor any of its content should be taken as an official communication of the University of Oklahoma.


Darwin@the Library info | Exhibit brochure (pdf)

H.M.S. Beagle, 1831–1836
The first books Darwin published resulted from his voyage on H.M.S. Beagle, which sailed around the world from 1831 to 1836. Robert Fitzroy captained this second surveying voyage of the ship with more than 35 sailors aboard. The chief mission of the voyage was to explore the southern portions of South America. A 22-year-old naturalist named Charles Darwin joined the expedition and made it the most noteworthy voyage of exploration of the 19th century.

Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, from Darwin (1890)

The Beagle model on display was acquired by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History for Darwin@the Museum, a joint exhibition held in fall 2009. Through the generosity of the Museum, the ship is now on indefinite loan to the History of Science Collections.

H.M.S. Beagle model, History of Science Collections
Model of H.M.S. Beagle, History of Science Collections lobby

The original H.M.S. Beagle was built as a 10-gun brig, almost exactly as long and as wide as the combined Roller Reading Room, Exhibit Lobby and Elevator Foyer of the History of Science Collections (approximately 100 x 25 feet). See Keith Stewart Thomson, HMS Beagle: The Story of Darwin’s Ship (Norton, 1995).

Darwin@the Library info | Exhibit brochure (pdf)

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