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Although Charles and Emma Darwin did not share the same religious faith, their 43-year marriage was one of love, respect, acceptance, and understanding. Here is information on how Charles and Emma met, their wedding, children, quotes about their marriage, and more.

Born:

Charles Robert Darwin: February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England.
Emma Wedgwood: May 2, 1808 in Maer, England.

Died:

Charles: Died of a heart attack at the age of 73 on April 19, 1882 in Downe, England.

"And as he slipped away, he told her, "Remember what a good wife you have been to me." Emma held Charles in her arms as he died."
Source: Deborah Heiligman. "The Darwins' marriage of science and religion." LATimes.com. 1/29/2009.

Emma: October 2, 1896. She is buried at St. Mary the Virgin in Downe.

How Emma and Charles Met:

Since their families were close and they were first cousins, Charles and Emma knew one another since they were children.
Charles and Emma became engaged on November 11, 1838. Charles referred to November 11th in his diary as "the day of days."

Deborah Heiligman: "He [Charles] had chosen Emma, and she had said yes in large part because they had known each other their whole lives. But they didn't really know each other. It was a big leap to go from being friendly cousins to being husband and wife ... Emma wrote to Aunt Jessie later that she was 'too much bewildered all day to feel my happiness.'"
Source: Deborah Heiligman. Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith. 2009. pg. 56.
Charles to Emma before their wedding: "Excuse this much egotism, I give it to you, because I think you will humanise me, and soon teach me there is greater happiness, than building theories and accumulating facts in silence and solitude."
Source: Randal Keynes. Darwin, His Daughter, and Human Evolution. 2002. pg 5.

Wedding Date and Info:

Charles and Emma were married at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Maer in England on January 29, 1839. One of their cousins, Reverend John Allen Wedgwood, officiated at their wedding.
Exterior and Interior Photos of St. Peter's Church

Emma wore a green silk dress. "I have bought a sort of greenish-grey rich silk for the wedding, which I expect papa to approve of entirely, and a remarkably lovely white chip bonnet trimmed with blonde and flowers."
Source: Henrietta E. Litchfield. "Wedding Clothes."Emma Darwin, A century of family letters, 1792-1896. page 17.

Occupations:

Charles: Naturalist, author.
Happy 200th, Mr. Darwin
Emma: Homemaker.

When Charles and Emma were engaged, "Arrangements were made for Darwin and Emma to receive a £5,000 dowry, plus £400 a year from Josiah Wedgwood II, along with £10,000 from his father, Dr. Robert Darwin, which would be invested for the newlyweds. Now Darwin could look forward to not having to work for a living; giving him plenty of free time for his book writing and transmutation research."
Source: AboutDarwin.com

Residence:

Emma and Charles lived most of their marriage at Down House in the village of Downe in Kent. The home was purchased for them by his father.
Photos of Down House

Quotes about the Marriage of Emma and Charles Darwin

Charles and Emma Darwin's Children

Emma and Charles Darwin Marriage Profile