Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and biologist who is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection. He was born on February 12, 1809, in The Mount House in Shrewsbury, England. Darwin was the fifth of six children born to Robert Darwin and Susannah Wedgwood.

Darwin’s interest in natural history began at an early age, and he was an avid collector of specimens. He attended the University of Edinburgh to study medicine but found the lectures uninteresting. He then transferred to the University of Cambridge to study theology, but his passion for natural history led him to pursue a career as a naturalist.

In 1831, Darwin embarked on a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, during which he collected specimens and made observations that would later form the basis of his theory of evolution. He published his findings in his book, “On the Origin of Species,” in 1859.

Darwin married his cousin, Emma Wedgwood, in 1839, and they had ten children together. He spent the rest of his life studying and writing about natural history, and he died on April 19, 1882, at his home in Downe, England. Darwin’s contributions to science have had a profound impact on our understanding of the natural world and continue to influence scientific research today.