What is Charles Darwin's middle name?

The story behind the answer

Charles Darwin's middle name was Robert, making his full name Charles Robert Darwin. He was born on 12 February 1809 at The Mount, his family's home in Shrewsbury, England.

The name Robert came from his father, Robert Waring Darwin, a prosperous physician and financier. Darwin was the fifth of six children born to Robert Darwin and Susannah Wedgwood. His family background connected him to both the Darwin scientific tradition and the Wedgwood pottery family.

Darwin is usually known simply as Charles Darwin, so his middle name is easy to overlook. It also helps distinguish him from other members of his extended family, including his grandfather Erasmus Darwin and his son Charles Waring Darwin. His full name appears in biographies, official records, and the title information associated with his scientific correspondence.

He later became one of history's most influential naturalists through his work on evolution, common descent, and natural selection.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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