Robert FitzRoy was a British naval officer and scientist, best known for his role as the captain of the HMS Beagle during its famous voyage from 1831 to 1836. This expedition is notable for carrying the young naturalist Charles Darwin, whose observations during the journey contributed to the development of the theory of evolution. FitzRoy was also a pioneer in meteorology, establishing the first systematic weather forecasting service in the UK. He created the first weather maps and advocated for the importance of accurate weather predictions, which significantly improved maritime safety and navigation.