Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and biologist who is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains the diversity of life on Earth and the evolutionary process that shapes it.
Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, in 1809, and he grew up in a comfortable and well-educated family. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge, where he developed an interest in natural history and geology.
In 1831, Darwin was invited to join an expedition to survey the coast of South America on the HMS Beagle, and he spent the next five years collecting and studying specimens from around the world. It was during this voyage that Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he outlined in his book "On the Origin of Species," published in 1859.
Darwin's theory of evolution was met with both acclaim and controversy, and it remains one of the most important and influential scientific theories in history. In addition to his work on evolution, Darwin also made significant contributions to the study of geology, botany, and paleontology.
Darwin died in 1882 at the age of 73, but his ideas and discoveries continue to be studied and debated by scientists and intellectuals around the world.
