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Charles Darwin is credited with providing a scientific foundation for the theory of evolution through natural selection. His seminal work, "On the Origin of Species," published in 1859, presents extensive evidence supporting the idea that species change over time through mechanisms such as variation, competition, and survival of the fittest. Darwin's observations during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, particularly on the Galápagos Islands, led him to develop his theories about how species adapt to their environments.

His contributions fundamentally shaped biological sciences and prompted further research into genetics and heredity, which later scientists such as Gregor Mendel and others would build upon. While Mendel studied heredity with his pea plant experiments, and figures like Isaac Newton and James Watson made significant impacts in their respective fields, none provided the same comprehensive framework for evolution as Darwin did. This pivotal role in linking observable changes in species to underlying scientific principles explains why Darwin is revered as the principal architect of evolutionary thought.