Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist best known for developing the scientific theory of evolution by natural selection. He proposed that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor, a concept that is now a fundamental principle in biology

. Darwin's interest in natural science grew during his studies at the University of Edinburgh and Christ's College, Cambridge. His reputation was established during a nearly five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle (1831–1836), where he made critical observations of wildlife and geology, notably in the Galápagos Islands. These observations led him to formulate his theory of natural selection, which explains how species adapt and evolve over time through a process akin to artificial selection used in breeding

. He published his groundbreaking work On the Origin of Species in 1859, which presented extensive evidence supporting evolution and natural selection. This work transformed biological science and challenged contemporary religious views on creation. Darwin continued to explore related topics, including human evolution and sexual selection, in later works such as The Descent of Man (1871)

. Darwin is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of science and was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey. His theory laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology and remains central to our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth