Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) was an 

English naturalist, biologist, and geologist best known for his revolutionary contributions to the science of evolution. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors through a process he called natural selection. 

Key Scientific Contributions

• Theory of Natural Selection: Darwin proposed that individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to the next generation.

• Common Descent: He introduced the "Tree of Life" concept, illustrating how different species branched off from shared ancestors over millions of years.

• Evidence from the Beagle: His five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle (1831–1836) provided critical evidence, particularly his observations of finches and tortoises in the Galápagos Islands, which showed how species adapt to specific niches. 

Major Published Works

• On the Origin of Species (1859): His seminal work that outlined the theory of evolution by natural selection. It was an immediate bestseller and sparked intense debate between scientific and religious communities.

• The Descent of Man (1871): Extended his theory to human evolution, suggesting that humans share a common ancestor with apes and discussing the role of sexual selection.

• The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872): One of the first books to use photographic plates, arguing that emotional expressions are evolved and often universal. 

Biography and Legacy

Born in Shrewsbury, England, Darwin initially studied medicine at Edinburgh but found it "boring" and "stomach-churning". He later studied theology at Cambridge before joining the Beagle expedition as a gentleman naturalist. After decades of private research—accelerated by a letter from Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently arrived at similar conclusions—he finally published his findings. 

Today, Darwin's work is considered the unifying theory of the life sciences, explaining the diversity of all life on Earth. He is buried in Westminster Abbey near other major scientific figures like Isaac Newton.