Charles Darwin was a British naturalist and biologist who is best known for his groundbreaking theory of evolution by natural selection. Born in 1809, Darwin grew up in a wealthy family and showed an early interest in nature and science. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh but later switched to divinity at Cambridge University. However, his true passion was for natural history, and he spent much of his time collecting specimens and studying the natural world.
In 1831, Darwin embarked on a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, during which he visited various countries and islands, including the Galapagos Islands. It was here that he made observations that would lead to his theory of evolution. He noticed that different species of animals on different islands had distinct physical characteristics that were adapted to their specific environments. This led him to believe that species were not fixed but could change over time.
After returning from his voyage, Darwin spent years studying and analyzing his findings before publishing his famous book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859. This book presented his theory of evolution by natural selection, which stated that species evolve over time through a process of random variation and natural selection. This theory caused controversy at the time as it challenged traditional religious beliefs about the creation of life.
