Lieutenant John Lort Stokes of the HMS Beagle discovered Darwin Harbour.
While Charles Darwin is a famous figure, particularly for his contributions to evolutionary biology, it's important to clarify that the question is about the place named "Darwin," specifically Darwin Harbour and, by extension, the city of Darwin, Australia. Darwin himself never visited this area.
The Discovery of Darwin Harbour
In 1839, the HMS Beagle, during its survey voyages, sailed into the waters of what is now known as Darwin Harbour. Lt. John Lort Stokes, who was serving on the Beagle, named the harbour in honor of his former shipmate, Charles Darwin. Darwin had previously sailed on the Beagle during its earlier voyage (1831-1836), contributing significantly to the scientific understanding of the natural world.
Therefore, while Charles Darwin significantly impacted science, the "discovery" of Darwin (the place) is attributed to John Lort Stokes who named it after him.
