Charles Darwin

Profession: Naturalist

Nationality:

Biography: Extremely controversial at the time Darwin's theories now underpin much of modern thought on the natural world.

Darwin established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors.

In a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace they introduced the idea that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding.

Darwin published this theory of evolution through natural selection in his book "On the Origins of Species" in 1859. The theory was supported with compelling evidence from his journeys around the world.

By the 1870s the scientific community and much of the general public had accepted Darwin's theory of evolution as a fact.

Born: February 12, 1809
Birthplace: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: April 19, 1882 (aged 73)
Cause of Death: Anginal attacks and heart failure