ABSTRACT
English biologist who explained the evolution of life on Earth by means of the theory of natural selection, which is frequently referred to as "Darwinism". One of his grandfathers was Erasmus *Darwin, who was also the grandfather of Francis Galton, the pioneer of *eugenics; the other was the famous potter Josiah Wedgwood. Darwin studied medicine at Edinburgh University but the subject disgusted him, although he developed something of a fascination with marine animals, to which study he returned late in life while sheltering from controversy. He also undertook preparatory studies for Holy Orders at Cambridge, but then applied for the post of naturalist on HMS Beagle's 1831 survey expedition to South America, under the command of Captain Robert Fitzroy.
