Charles Darwin

Charles Robert Darwin was born in England on 12 February 1809. He developed an affinity for scientific experimentation and collection at a young age but was otherwise disinterested in conventional education.

While studying at Cambridge, he received an invitation from one of his professors to join an expedition as a naturalist. He was able to enrich his scientific collections and closely observe the natural and social landscapes of the places he visited. For the next few years, Darwin was completely immersed in the preservation of his collections and recording and sharing his findings.

After years of quiet research, he began, in 1856, to write his formulation of natural selection, with input from his friends in the scientific community. The book generated both interest and criticism from scientific and religious communities alike. Darwin then continued to publish books that often propounded controversial theories, as his health deteriorated further. On 19 April 1882, he died at his family home.