Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was the first person to propose the theory of natural selection and from that, evolution.

He was born in England in 1809 the son of a doctor. Because his family were prosperous, he could go to university where he was training to become a vicar. Just before he finished university, he was invited on a 5 year, round the world voyage, on a sailing ship called The Beagle. His job was to be scientist and collector.

On the voyage, and most particularly in the Galapagos Islands, he noticed many small variations in a species of bird called a finch. He saw that on each island he visited, the finches were slightly different from other islands. He proposed that the variations suited the island conditions and could be passed on to the offspring. He called it 'Natural Selection'.

The theory shocked Victorian Society who all thought that God created the world and everything in it.

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