Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin ...

was an English scientist who studied nature. He is known for his theory of evolution by natural selection. According to this theory, all living things are struggling to survive. The living things that have the most helpful traits for their environment tend to survive. These living things then pass along their helpful traits to their young. In this way, animals change, or evolve, over hundreds of years. 

In 1831 Darwin joined an expedition to explore the coasts of South America. On December 27, 1831, Darwin and the others set sail on the HMS Beagle. Darwin’s goal was to study the natural history of the areas they were to explore. The observations he made during the five-year trip led him to wonder how new species developed. To explain this process Darwin formed his theory of natural selection.