Charles Watson Darwin

Charles Darwin was a British naturalist, biologist, and geologist who is best known for his theory of evolution through natural selection. Born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, Darwin studied theology at Cambridge University but later developed a passion for natural history. He served as the ship's naturalist on the HMS Beagle, which took him on a five-year voyage around the world. During this time, he collected numerous species of plants, animals, and fossils that would later form the basis of his groundbreaking book, On the Origin of Species. Darwin's work revolutionized the field of biology and earned him the nickname "the father of evolution." He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and received numerous honors for his contributions to science. Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and had ten children with her. He died on April 19, 1882, in Downe, Kent, England.