Happy birthday Charles Darwin

Learn more about the father of evolution on his birthday.

February 12, 2018

Samantha Keogh Less than a minute

Birth name: Charles Robert Darwin

Born: February 12, 1809.

Died: Apr 19, 1882 (age 73).

Occupation: Father of evolutionary science whose 1859 book The Origin of Species first introduced the concept of natural selection. His theories, which helped support evolution, made him a controversial figure.

Before Fame: He learned the art of taxidermy from a freed slave before studying at Christ’s College in Cambridge.

Trivia: While studying the adaptations of Galapagos Island finches during a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, he came to discover signs of evolution.

Family Life: He had ten children with his wife Emma Wedgwood, whom he married in 1859. She was also his cousin.