CHARLES DARWIN
CHARLES DARWIN Charles Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 at the Mount House, Shrewsbury. His father was a doctor. His mother died when he was 8 years old. Charles had one brother and four sisters. Up to the age of 8 Charles was taught by an older sister. He then began school. From his earliest years Charles Darwin was interested in natural history. However he was a poor scholar. He went to Edinburgh University to study medicine but he left after 2 years. His father decided he should be a clergyman so Charles Darwin then went to Cambridge University. Charles Darwin left Cambridge University in 1831. The same year he signed up to sail, without pay, as a naturalist on a ship called the Beagle. Its captain was Robert Fitzroy and it sailed on 27 December 1831. In February 1832 the Beagle reached Brazil. They stayed in Brazil until July 1832 then sailed to Montevideo. Darwin spent three years in different parts of South America collecting specimens. T