Charles Darwin was born in England 200 years ago. Although he became one of the most famous scientists ever known, he was not the best student in school. He enjoyed taking nature walks more than his studies. As a child and young man, he made collections of things he found on his walks: seashells, rocks, minerals and insects.

Later, when he was a university student, Charles collected many different kinds of beetles and studied their biology. He became known as a talented and knowledgeable naturalist – someone who studies nature.

Charles loved to read about far-away places and about explorers who traveled across oceans to find new plants and animals. After he finished his university studies, he had a great opportunity to go on his own voyage of discovery. He was asked to go on a scientific expedition to South America.

In 1831, Charles set sail on the H.M.S. Beagle, a 90-foot-long wooden ship carrying 73 people. He was 22 years old and this was his first real journey. Charles was gone for five years, sailing around the world and stopping to collect new kinds of plants and animals everywhere he went. He kept a detailed journal of all his discoveries. Back in England, he married and had a large family. He continued to study his collections and wrote many famous books about his discoveries.

Click here to learn how to collect and store your treasures like Darwin!

Click here to view and download illustrations from one of Darwin’s first books, Zoology of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle.

Click here to learn more about the exhibition Darwin at the Museum.