Widely regarded as the scientist most associated with the theory of evolution through natural selection, this English naturalist wrote his masterwork, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) years after completing his five-year voyage as naturalist aboard HMS Beagle. Although he was not the originator of the theory of evolution, his work was the first to gain widespread acceptance from the experts of his day. Darwin was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Charles Darwin, born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, was a naturalist and biologist whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the theory of evolution through natural selection. His contributions to science, particularly his ideas about how species change over time, have had a profound impact on our understanding of the natural world.

Darwin was born into a wealthy and well-connected family. His father, Robert Darwin, was a successful doctor, and his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was a renowned scientist and poet. Despite this scientific lineage, Darwin initially pursued a different path. He began studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but found it uninteresting and distasteful. After abandoning medicine, he enrolled at the University of Cambridge with the intention of becoming a clergyman. However, it was during his time at Cambridge that Darwin's interest in natural history blossomed.

In 1831, Darwin received an invitation to join the HMS Beagle as a naturalist on a five-year voyage around the world. This journey, which began when Darwin was just 22 years old, would change the course of his life and the field of biology forever. The Beagle's mission was to chart the coastlines of South America, but for Darwin, it was an opportunity to explore the diverse forms of life that inhabited the various regions the ship visited.

During the voyage, Darwin collected an extensive array of specimens, including plants, animals, and fossils. His observations of the unique wildlife on the Galápagos Islands, in particular, were crucial to the development of his ideas on evolution. He noticed that the finches on different islands had variations in their beak shapes, which seemed to be adaptations to their specific environments and diets. This led Darwin to consider the possibility that species were not fixed and unchanging, as was commonly believed at the time, but could evolve over generations in response to environmental pressures.

After returning to England in 1836, Darwin spent the next two decades meticulously studying his collections and refining his ideas. He corresponded with other scientists and conducted experiments to test his hypotheses. During this period, he developed his theory of natural selection, which proposed that individuals with traits better suited to their environment were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits on to future generations.

In 1859, Darwin published his seminal work, "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection." The book presented a comprehensive argument for evolution, supported by a wealth of evidence gathered during his travels and subsequent research. The publication of "On the Origin of Species" sparked widespread debate and controversy, particularly among religious groups, as it challenged traditional views on the creation of life. However, over time, Darwin's theory gained acceptance within the scientific community and became the cornerstone of modern biology.

Darwin continued to write and publish on various topics, including human evolution, plant biology, and the behavior of animals. His later works, such as "The Descent of Man" and "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals," further explored the implications of his theory for understanding the origins of humans and other species.

Charles Darwin died on April 19, 1882, at the age of 73. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, a testament to the significance of his contributions to science. Today, Darwin is remembered as one of the most influential scientists in history, and his theory of evolution remains a fundamental concept in biology, shaping our understanding of the natural world and the diversity of life on Earth.