Charles Darwin (1809–1882), English naturalist and biologist, was the founder of the theory of evolution. Born into a medical family, he was passionate about natural history. In 1831, he embarked on a five-year voyage aboard HMS Beagle, where observations of species variation in the Galápagos Islands laid the groundwork for his evolutionary theory.
In 1859, Darwin published On the Origin of Species, proposing evolution by natural selection—species are not fixed but gradually change through the accumulation of advantageous variations in the struggle for survival. This theory transformed humanity's understanding of life's origins and diversity, often called 'the Newtonian revolution in biology.'
Evolution by natural selection is the unifying framework of modern biology, profoundly influencing genetics, medicine, ecology, and conservation. Darwin's scientific method—patient observation, bold hypothesis, and meticulous verification—remains a model for scientists worldwide.
