England went through dramatic changes in the 19th century. English culture, socio-economic structure and politics were largely influenced by the principles of science. Many social expressions occurred due to these changes. Transformations, which categorized this time period could be observed in social institutions; for instance: the switch from popular Evangelicalism to Atheism, emergence of feminism and the creation of new political ideologies (Liberalism, Conservatism, and Radicalism). These are just a few changes that took place. All of this social alteration can be attributed to the importance of science. The English people began to trust more in empiricism and logical thought than in faith and glory of the empire. One who contributed greatly to this transformation was Charles Darwin. In his two most famous works, Origin of the Species and The Decent of Man, Darwin introduces the concepts of the survival of the fittest?,natural selection?, and evolution?. He proposed theories that changed the views of the origin of mankind; as well as, the beginning of life on earth and the continual evolution of advanced life.
Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. HE was the son of Robert Waring Darwin and his wife Susannah; and the grandson of the scientist Erasmus Darwin. He was raised by his sister after the death of his mother at age 8. He was taught the classics in Shrewsbury, then sent to Edinburgh to study medicine, which he hated, and a final attempt at educating him, he was sent to Christ's College in Cambridge to study theology. During this period he loved to collect plants, insects, and geological specimens, guided by his cousin William Darwin Fox, an entomologist. Other scientists such as Galileo and Aristotle influenced many of Darwin's theories and statements.
At the age of twenty-two, the year of 1851, Darwin went out on an expedition; which was the most significant event of his life.