"Charles Darwin" (1809 – 1882) British scientist, theory of evolution

Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He was an English naturalist and geologist who is best known for his contributions to the science of evolution.

Darwin's grandfather was a wealthy physician, and his father was a successful financier. His mother died when he was eight, leaving him in the care of his older sister. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and later at Edinburgh University, where he studied medicine. After a few months, however, he decided that medicine was not for him, and he instead focused on geology and natural history. In 1831, Darwin

was invited to join a scientific expedition aboard the HMS Beagle, which was to survey the coasts of South America. During the voyage, Darwin made observations of the plants, animals, and geology of the region and collected specimens for study. He was particularly struck by the differences between the species of animals on the Galapagos Islands, which led him to formulate his theory of evolution by natural selection. Upon returning to England in 1836, Darwin published his findings in his
book, The Origin of Species. This work had a profound effect on the scientific community and sparked a heated debate about the implications of natural selection and the process of evolution. Despite the controversy, Darwin's theories became widely accepted, and he is now considered to be one of the most influential scientists in history.

Darwin spent the rest of his life developing his theories and writing other works, including The Descent of Man in 1871. He also did extensive research on plants and their evolution, which resulted in several books, including The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication. Darwin died in 1882 at the age of 73, but his work continues to have a profound impact on the scientific community. His theories of evolution are still accepted today, and his work has been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the natural world. He is remembered as one of the most important scientists of all time and will continue to be a source of inspiration and admiration for generations to come.

"Christopher Columbus" (1451 – 1506) Italian explorer

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who is often credited for discovering the New World in 1492. He is also remembered for his incredible courage and determination during his many voyages.

Born in the Republic of Genoa, Italy in 1451, Columbus was the eldest son of a wool weaver. He was raised in a devoutly Catholic family and had a strong interest in seafaring from a young age. He worked as a merchant sailor in his youth, and, during this time, learned to read and write as well as gain knowledge of navigation and seamanship. By the late 1470s, Columbus had become an expert mariner and had sailed to many different ports around the Mediterranean. He began to form a plan to sail west to the Indies and China, and began seeking out sponsorship. After failing to secure financial support from the Portuguese, he moved to Spain in 1485 and spent the next few years trying to persuade the Spanish Monarchy to finance his voyage. In 1492, Columbus finally received the support he needed and set sail with three ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. After a long and difficult journey, his ships reached the Caribbean islands, what he believed was the Indies, on October 12th. He named the island San Salvador and encountered the native peoples he called “Indians”. Columbus made three more voyages to the New World, exploring the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America. He was a great navigator and was able to explore and map unknown parts of the world. He also established the first permanent European settlements in the Americas. Though Columbus is remembered for his discoveries, he has also been criticized for his treatment of native peoples. He and his crew enslaved many of the people they encountered and forced them to work for the Spanish. This treatment of the native populations had long-term consequences and led to their eventual decimation. Though his exploration of the world has been criticized, Christopher Columbus remains one of the most important figures in world history. He was a brave and determined explorer who opened up a whole new world to Europeans, and his legacy will live on for centuries to come.