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 from a family of wealthy industrialists. Darwin was the fifth of six children and was educated at home by his mother and older sisters until he was sent to boarding school at the age of nine.

In 1825, Darwin enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to study medicine, but he quickly became disinterested in the subject. He then transferred to the University of Cambridge to study theology, but he was more interested in natural history. He graduated in 1831 with a degree in theology, but he had already decided to pursue a career in natural history.

In 1831, Darwin was invited to join the HMS Beagle as a naturalist on a five-year voyage around the world. During the voyage, Darwin 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. In 1859, he published his book “On the Origin of Species,” which presented his theory of evolution by natural selection. The book caused a great deal of controversy, but it eventually became widely accepted by the scientific community.

Darwin continued to work on his theory of evolution for the rest of his life. He published several other books, including “The Descent of Man” and “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.” He also corresponded with other scientists and continued to collect evidence to support his theory.

Darwin died on April 19, 1882, at the age of 73. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, and his funeral was attended by many prominent scientists and intellectuals. Darwin’s theory of evolution has had a profound impact on our understanding of the natural world, and it continues to be a subject of study and debate to this day.