In 1831 Charles Darwin joined HMS Beagle as the ship's naturalist but not before he had overcome his father's many objections why he should not go - not least that "it's a wild scheme - no good would come of it"!
The outcome of Darwin's voyage on the Beagle was On the
Origin of Species which revolutionised our idea of life.
It's not remembered by many that Darwin contributed not only
to the knowledge of evolution but collected many important
geological specimens - moreover Beagle's Captain Robert Fitzroy
was an expert meteorologist - he eventually founded what was
to become the modern day Meteorological Office.
The young Darwin pictured right
The lander destined for Mars as part of ESA's Mars Express Mission will carry the instruments necessary to search for the signatures of life; it's name Beagle 2 commemorates Darwin's ship and the voyage which he called "the most important event in my life".
