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How did Charles Darwin develop the theory of evolution?

British scientist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) developed the theory of evolution (the theory that living organisms developed slowly over long periods of time) after years of meticulous note-taking on his journeys around the world. He originally trained for a career in medicine and the ministry but lost interest in both during his studies. He turned his attention to studying the natural world when he met the botanist (a scientist specializing in the study of plants) J. S. Henslow (1796–1861), who offered him a chance to take a five-year research cruise on board a boat called The Beagle. These five years of intensive study took Darwin to the coasts of South America, the Galápagos Islands, the Andes Mountains, Australia, and Asia. After this voyage Darwin was encouraged by geologist (a scientist specializing in the origin, history, and...

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