Charles Darwin was a British naturalist and biologist who is best known for his theory of evolution. He was born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, into a wealthy family. His father was a physician and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. Darwin was the fifth of six children and was educated at home by his mother until he was eight years old.

At the age of 16, Darwin was sent to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but he found the lectures boring and dropped out after two years. He then went to study theology at Christ’s College, Cambridge, but he was more interested in natural history and spent his time collecting specimens and studying geology.

In 1831, Darwin was invited to join the HMS Beagle as a naturalist on a five-year voyage around the world. During the voyage, he collected specimens of plants and animals and made observations that would later form the basis of his theory of evolution. He also visited the Galapagos Islands, where he observed the unique characteristics of the finches and tortoises that lived there.

After returning to England in 1836, Darwin began to develop his theory of evolution. He spent the next 20 years studying and collecting evidence to support his theory, which he finally published in his book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859. The book caused a great controversy, as it challenged the traditional view of creationism and the idea that species were fixed and unchanging.

Darwin continued to work on his theory of evolution for the rest of his life, publishing several more books on the subject. He also made important contributions to the study of geology, botany, and zoology. He died on April 19, 1882, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, a rare honor for a scientist.

Today, Darwin’s theory of evolution is widely accepted by the scientific community and has had a profound impact on our understanding of the natural world. His work has also had a significant influence on fields such as genetics, anthropology, and psychology. Darwin is remembered as one of the most important scientists in history and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of scientists and thinkers.