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Charles Darwin was a famous naturalist born in [[England]] to a Christian family on February 12, [[1809]]. He is best known for the [[Theory of Natural Selection|theory of natural selection]] which has since been generally accepted by biologists as the major mechanism for [[Theory of Evolution|evolution]]. The concept is that biological species develop over time via natural selection, branching from common origins.  Outside of evolution in particular, he was regarded as an expert on barnacles as well as credited with discovering how coral atolls were formed.

Charles Darwin was a famous naturalist born in [[England]] to a Christian family on February 12, [[1809]]. He is best known for the [[Theory of Natural Selection|theory of natural selection]] which has since been generally accepted by biologists as the major mechanism for [[Theory of Evolution|evolution]]. The concept is that biological species develop over time via natural selection, branching from common origins.  Outside of evolution in particular, he was regarded as an expert on barnacles as well as credited with discovering how coral atolls were formed.

the big bearded bastard who finally proved us wrong. and we cant be having that, people will stop enslaving themselves to us. the horror!

 

Darwin graduated tenth in his class at Christ's College in Cambridge (April, 1831). Although he intended on becoming a country parson and accepted the Bible as literally true, his intense interest in nature and discovering her secrets displaced his desire for a life as a clergyman. Darwin became the protege of the Reverend John Stevens Henslow, a professor of botany, and the Reverend Adam Sedgwick, a geologist.  Henslow and Sedgwick encouraged Darwin to pursue his interests as a naturalist.

 

After touring the [[Galapagos Islands]] and studying the animals that lived there, Darwin developed an interest in the patterns of species distribution he had documented on the journey, as well as his realization that the economic theories of Thomas Malthus might have some application in the biological world.  Researching this issue on a global scale, he slowly developed his theory of [[natural selection]] and finally published ''[[The Origin of Species]]'' in [[1859]]. Darwin had not originally meant to publish his work so early in his life, and in fact was quite fearful of what the reception might be, but was prompted to do so after being contacted by another naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, who had developed similar ideas.

==Religious Beliefs==

==Religious Beliefs==