The HMS Beagle – OcCre 12005

HMS Beagle was one of the most famous ships of its time for various reasons. The best-known of these was undoubtedly the natural history research expedition commanded by Commander Robert FitzRoy, with the young Darwin on board.

Launched on the Thames on May 11, 1820, the ship was built at the Woolwich shipyards. In July of the same year, as part of the coronation celebrations of King George IV, it was the first vessel to pass beneath the new London Bridge.

All in all, HMS Beagle undertook three major voyages. It was only on the second voyage that Darwin came aboard. Of the nearly five years of this expedition, Darwin spent three years and three months on land and eighteen months at sea.