Charles Darwin loved collecting beetles and had a large collection of specimens. He was impressed by the high diversity of insects in the tropics, remarking that, to his surprise, the majority of species were small and inconspicuous. [1]
Charles Darwin is well known for his contributions to the field of biology and his groundbreaking theory of evolution by natural selection presented in his 1859 book, On the Origin of Species.
Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on 12 February 1809. He was the fifth of six children of wealthy society doctor and financier Robert Darwin and his wife, Susannah. His grandfather, Dr Erasmus Darwin, was a renowned botanist. His mother died when he was only 8 years old.
Darwin was a child of wealth and privilege who enjoyed reading and was fascinated by nature, collecting insects, rocks, and other specimens. His father wanted him to pursue a career in medicine, and he was sent to study at Edinburgh University. He found the experience unpleasant and eventually dropped out. He later enrolled in Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he studied theology and natural science.
After completing his degree, Darwin accepted an offer in 1831 to embark on a five-year survey trip around the world aboard HMS Beagle fulfilling the role of naturalist. This journey, which would provide the inspiration and observations for his theory, changed Darwin’s life and the trajectory of Western scientific thinking. Darwin challenged prevailing views on the creation of life and provided a new understanding of how species can change and adapt over time. His work has had a profound impact on the natural sciences and continues to shape our understanding of the natural world to this day.
Darwin wrote several books throughout his lifetime. All are considered to be major works in the field of biology and continue to be widely read and studied today.
Charles Darwin died in 1882 at the age of 73 and is buried in Westminster Abbey in London, England.
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