Charles Robert Darwin

Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England.

Charles is famous for his theory of evolution.

From 1831 to 1836 Darwin was as naturalist aboard the H.M.S Beagle on a British science expedition around the world.In South America Darwin found fossils of extinct animals that are similar to modern species. On the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean he noticed a lot of the fossils that were found were of the same general type as those in South America.

On the expidition the scientist onboard the H.M.S Beagle traveled all over the world. Wherever they went Darwin studied animals and plants and collected specimens for further study.

"Upon his return to London Darwin conducted thorough research of his notes and specimens. Out of this study grew several related theories: one, evolution did occur; two, evolutionary change was gradual, requiring thousands to millions of years; three, the primary mechanism for evolution was a process called natural selection; and four, the millions of species alive today arose from a single original life form through a branching process called “speciation"."

Darwin's theory's changed many religious peoples beliefs. Writers used Darwin's theories to support their own theories about society.

His life ended sadly in 1882.

This is one of his famous lines “I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural Selection.”
- CHARLES DARWIN

My reference is:

http://www.lucidcafe.com/lucidcafe/library/96feb/darwin.html

For some more info you can go to these websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/darwin.htm