Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809–19 April 1882) was a British naturalist who achieved lasting fame as originator of the theory of evolution through natural selection.
He developed his interest in natural history while studying first medicine, then theology, at university. Five years on the Voyage of the Beagle brought him eminence as a geologist and fame as a popular author.
His observations of biology led him to study transmutation of species and develop his theory of natural selection in 1838.
Fully aware of the likely reaction, he confided only in close friends and researched to meet anticipated objections.
In 1858 the information that Alfred Russel Wallace now had a similar theory forced early joint publication of Darwin's theory.

His 1859 book The Origin of Species established evolution by common descent as the dominant scientific theory of diversification in nature.
He continued his research and wrote a series of books on plants and animals, now including mankind in The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.
His last book was about earthworms.
In a national recognition of Darwin's pre-eminence, he was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to Sir William Herschel and Sir Isaac Newton.