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Charles Darwin - Biography

Charles Robert Darwin, born 12 February 1809 in Shropshire, England, and who died 19 April 1882 in Kent, was a prominent British naturalist and biologist. His research and theories about evolution and natural selection gave rise to modern biology and greatly changed our understanding of the origin and development of species. Let's take a look at the biography of Charles Darwin and the importance of his scientific achievements.

Charles was the fifteenth of nineteen children in a family of wealthy English figures. His father was a physician and wealthy landowner, and his grandfather was a noted physician and abolitionist. As a child, Charles developed an interest in nature and his parents supported his fascination.

In 1825, Charles entered the University of Edinburgh, where he began to study medicine, but his interests leaned towards the natural sciences. In 1827 he moved to Cambridge University, where he studied theology and natural history. While studying at Cambridge, he became a close friend of John Hooke and Adam Sedgwick, who were influential in his future scientific career.

In 1831, after graduating from university, he was invited by Captain Robert Fitzroy to travel aboard the Beagle ship (HMS Beagle) as a naturalist. This journey, which lasted five years, was a turning point in his life and career. During the expedition, he collected extensive collections of specimens and observed the diversity of wildlife.

Based on data collected during the voyage on the Beagle, Darwin developed his theory of evolution and natural selection. He proposed that species evolve over time by accumulating minute changes, and natural selection acts as a mechanism that determines which changes are conserved and transmitted to offspring.

In 1859, he published his famous book, On the Origin of Species, in which he detailed his theory. This work caused fierce debate and controversy, but eventually became a classic work of non-fiction.