Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12th, 1809. His father Robert Darwin was a doctor. Charles'mother Susannah Darwin was the daughter of the famous potter, Josiah Wedgwood. She died when Charles was only 8 years old. Young Charles was in tensely interested in the natural world from an early age. But his father wanted him to be a doctor. At age 16, Charles was sent to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. But he did not like it. He found medical operations especially horrible. He later went to Cambridge University. His father now hoped that Darwin would become a clergyman. But at Cambridge, Charles continued to follow his own interests. There, he met John Henslow, a plant scientist and clergyman. The two became friends. John Henslow suggested that Charles Darwin take the unpaid position of naturalist for a trip on the British ship HMS. Beagle. It sailed around the world from 1831 to 1836. The main goal was to make maps of the coast line of South America. The British government paid for the voyage. But another purpose of the trip was to collect scientific objects from around the world.