Charles Darwin is primarily known as the architect of the theory of evolution by natural selection. With the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859, he advanced a view of the development of life on earth that profoundly shaped nearly all biological and much philosophical thought which followed.

Key points: Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who proposed the theory of biological evolution by natural selection. Darwin defined evolution as "descent with modification," the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor.

Birds' eggs and sea shells, beetles and coins, moths and minerals--as a child, Charles Darwin collected all of these and more. Born in 1809 to a wealthy family in rural England, he spent hours watching birds and lying under the dining-room table, reading. He was an indifferent student, though, and school bored him.

Who was Charles Darwin? Charles Darwin was a brilliant English naturalist and biologist who lived in the 19th century. He is most famous for his groundbreaking theory of evolution, which he presented in his book “On the Origin of Species.” Darwin was a curious and observant fellow.