Final answer:
Charles Darwin began his formal studies in medicine at the University of Edinburgh but switched to studying theology at Christ's College, Cambridge. It was after his studies at Cambridge that he was appointed as a naturalist on the HMS Beagle, embarking on a voyage that influenced his work on natural selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charles Darwin began his studies at the University of Edinburgh where he initially enrolled to study medicine but later became captivated by natural history. His formative education at Edinburgh included learning taxidermy from John Edmonstone, a skill that proved invaluable during his later explorations. However, it was at Christ's College, Cambridge, where Darwin pursued theology, that he completed his formal education. It was after his studies at Cambridge that he was appointed as the naturalist on the HMS Beagle. This position allowed him to undertake a transformative five-year scientific expedition around the world, during which he collected a plethora of specimens and made key observations that led to his theory of natural selection, particularly in the Galápagos Islands where he studied finches with varying beak shapes and sizes.