1809–1882 · biology, evolution, natural history
Charles Darwin (1809–1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. His five-year voyage on HMS Beagle established him as an eminent geologist, and his subsequent observations and theory of natural selection, published in 'On the Origin of Species' (1859), provided a unifying explanation for the diversity of life. His work fundamentally altered scientific thought and remains central to modern biology.