Charles Darwin was born February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury England. In addition to being the world’s greatest barnacle expert of his time, he also took time out to write the rather famous
On the Origin of Species, which
laid out his theory of evolution. I think strong arguments can be made is history’s single
most influential scientist: his keen insight into the relationships between living things continues
to aid in understanding the biological world around us.

Surprisingly debate over evolution continues, not in the scientific arena, but in the religious and political world. Many are offended to believe that they owe their existance to descent from
other primates instead of divine creation in a magical garden. I won’t debate them here (you can
examine talk.origins for that) but I will respond with a quotation:

How so many absurd rules of conduct, as well as so many absurd religious beliefs, have originated, we do not know; nor how it is that they have become, in all quarters of the world, so deeply impressed on the minds of men; but it is worthy of remark that a belief constantly inculcated during the early years of life, while the brain is impressionable, appears to acquire almost the nature of an instinct; and the very essence of an instinct is that it is followed independently of reason.

— Charles Darwin