What was Darwin's first published book, based on his Beagle voyage?

Darwin’s first published book was Journal of Researches, his account of the HMS Beagle voyage. It described the geology, natural history, and societies Darwin encountered during the expedition’s circumnavigation of the globe.

The work first appeared in 1839 as part of the third volume of FitzRoy’s Narrative of the Surveying Voyages. In that original setting, Darwin’s contribution was titled Journal and Remarks. It was soon issued separately under the better-known title Journal of Researches, later commonly called The Voyage of the Beagle.

The book made Darwin a respected popular writer before On the Origin of Species appeared in 1859. It drew on observations gathered during the voyage from 1831 to 1836, including studies of fossils, volcanic islands, South American wildlife, and the Galápagos. The title is sometimes confused with Darwin’s later books on coral reefs, volcanic islands, or evolution.