1744-1829

French Naturalist and Systematist

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck did much to clear the path toward the current theory of evolution and natural selection. While some of his ideas about evolution were later proven false, others led later scientists, including Charles Darwin (1809-1882), to develop the concepts that now form the basis of the biological sciences. Another of Lamarck's great contributions was the classification of invertebrates, a term he coined for animals lacking a backbone.

Lamarck was born in Bazentin-le-Petit in Picardy, north of France, the youngest of 11 children. His family fell into the upper class socially but not financially, and he would struggle with money matters throughout his life.

After a few years in a Jesuit seminary, Lamarck decided to continue his family's history of military service and joined the French army in 1761. When...