Introduction

Charles Darwin was a well-known scientist. His most popular work was on the Origin of species (1859) has deeply influenced modern society.

It also explains the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Early life

In February 1809, Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, to a wealthy family; his father (known as Robert Darwin) was a doctor. His mother,Sukey Wedgwood, inherited a pottery business. Darwin's favourite hobby was collecting things: shells,seals,coins,franks and minerals. His favourite sibling was his older brother Erasmus (Ras); he was just one year older then Charles. Tragically, when Charles was just eight years old his mother died and his sisters had to teach him at home.

School life

After his mother died, he was sent to boarding school which he hated. By the age of 16, he left school. His father wanted him to be a doctor so that summer he was following his father around the hospital. He then started to train to be a doctor in Edinburgh University which he hated just like school. After two years,he abandoned his medical studies and attended Cambridge University which he loved. He studied to be a clergyman but instead focused on collecting different types of beetles.

Discoveries

After university, Charles got offered as a naturalist on HMS Beagle, one of the British Navy's ships. On the Galapagos Islands, he found animals and plants that were nearly the same as the ones he found in South America. This started thinking about how animals and plants evolved over time.

Charles Darwin

(1809-1882)