Charles Darwin

At Devil's Point, at the end of Durnford Street, there is a plaque commemorating the sailing from Barn Pool, at Mount Edgcumbe, of HMS Beagle. Charles Darwin's journey is mentioned in the Quarterly Review of 1840: 'On the 27th November, 1831, the well-manned, well-appointed and well-provided Beagle sailed from Barn Pool, and having circumnavigated the globe, and accomplished all the objects the expedition had in view, as far was practical, she anchored at Falmouth on the 2nd October, 1836, after and absence of four years and nine months.' Darwin had lived in Plymouth for two months before his famous voyage around the world in HMS Beagle. The ship was captained by Robert Fitzroy. Darwin, who was then just 22 years old, joined the crew as a naturalist. He had a wealthy family who paid the £30 fare needed to travel on the Beagle.

When he returned to England, he married Emma Wedgwood, the daughter of the potter, Josiah Wedgwood.

He carried on his research and in 1859, his book, 'The Origin of the Species by Natural Selection' was published in 1859.

Darwin died in 1882 at his home in Orpington, Kent. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.