Charles Robert Darwin, an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, is widely acknowledged for his seminal contributions to evolutionary biology. Darwin's proposition that all species of life have descended from common ancestors is a cornerstone of modern scientific thought. His theory of natural selection, which posits that species evolve over time due to the differential survival of individuals, revolutionized our understanding of life's diversity.

During his time at the University of Edinburgh, Darwin's burgeoning interest in nature led him to forsake his medical education to investigate marine invertebrates. It was at Christ's College, University of Cambridge, where his passion for natural science deepened. His five-year voyage on HMS Beagle established him as a preeminent geologist and popular author. Intrigued by the geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils he collected during the voyage, Darwin began detailed investigations that culminated in the development of his theory of natural selection in 1838.

Despite requiring time for extensive research, Darwin was prompted to publish his theory in 1858 alongside Alfred Russel Wallace, who had independently conceived a similar idea. Darwin's work, especially his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, provided compelling evidence for evolution and established it as a fact in scientific circles and among the educated public of his time. His contributions extended to examining human evolution and sexual selection in his 1871 work The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, as well as studying emotions in humans and animals and conducting research on plants.

Darwin's final book, The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Actions of Worms, explored the impact of earthworms on soil formation. His scientific legacy continues to be the foundational framework of the life sciences, explaining life's diversity through natural selection.