Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle

This volume details the work of the HMS BEAGLE between the years 1831 and 1836. Naturalist Charles Darwin's insights during this cruise led to the Theory of Evolution and also to the accepted theory of the mode of formation of coral reefs. Darwin was Fitzroy's messmate for most of the cruise as well as a sounding board for ideas. Fitzroy was quite conservative in his views which sometimes led to friction between him and Darwin. Fitzroy went on to become the first head of the British Meteorological Office.