Born February 12, 1809,
Shrewsbury, England
Died April 19, 1882,
Kent, England

Charles Darwin’s biological theories overturned traditional beliefs, resulting in a revolution in thinking about the origin of life. Today, Darwin remains an intellectual giant who disputed the idea that each species was individually created as described in the Book of Genesis, replacing it with his own theory of evolution widely accepted by scientists.

Shows early interest in science

Charles Robert Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, on February 12, 1809; his mother was Susannah Wedgwood, the daughter of Josiah Wedgwood, the founder of the famous pottery firm; his father, Robert Waring Darwin, was a physician and the son of Erasmus Darwin, a physician, poet, and botanist who codified his own ideas on organic life. Darwin’s mother died when he was a child, and his older sisters provided his early education; he benefited from the attention shown...