-
Carolus Linneaus was born
He was born in Roeshult, Sweden. ("Carolus linnaeus," 2012). -
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon was born
He was born in Montbard, France.
("Georges-louis leclerc, comte," 2006). -
James Hutton was born
He was born in Scotland. ("Hutton | james," 2003). -
Erasmus Darwin was born
He was born in Nottinghamshire, England. ("Erasmus Darwin," 2013). -
Carolus Linnaeus: First Classification System
He put out his first classification system on living things called "Systema Naturae". ("Carolus linnaeus," 2012). -
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
He translated and published Stephen Hale's "Vegetable Staticks". This peaked his interest in science as he began to develop a conception of scientific method.
("Georges-louis leclerc, comte," 2006). -
Jean- Baptiste Lamarck was born
He was born in Bazentin-le-Petit, France.
("Jean baptiste lamarck," 2001). -
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
He began his comprehensive and extensive work and called it "Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière". It was his first attempt to present all existing knowledge in natural history, geology, and anthropology systematically.
A major topic that is often pointed out to this day was his discussing of the possibility of common ancestry between humand and apes. ("Georges-louis leclerc, comte," 2013). -
Carolus Linnaeus
He collected and named several specimens from all across the world.
By then, his classification system: Systema Naturae 10th edition was the starting point for the naming of insects.
("Carolus linnaeus," 2012). -
Thomas Robert Malthus was born
He was born either on Feb. 13/14, in Surrey, England.
("Thomas Robert Malthus," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier was born
He was born in Montbéliard, France.
("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was born
He was born in Étampes, France.
("Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire," 2013). -
Carolus Linnaeus dies
He died of stroke in Uppsala, Sweden. ("Carolus linnaeus," 2012). -
Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
His most famous section of his publication, Époques de la nature, suggested that the world was much older than 6000 years old. This went against the Church's views.
He also discussed the very basis of uniformitarianism. But, due to his incoherent proof, the theory was not formulated till 40 years later. ("Georges-louis leclerc, comte," 2006). -
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
He finished his publication that discussed about the nature of birds.
("Georges-louis leclerc, comte," 2006). -
James Hutton
He developed his theory: "Theory of the Earth". It stated the idea that sediments and the land was created through great heat that existed beneath the earth's crust. He believed that heat had an expansive force that was able to elevate the bottom of the ocean to the land we reside on now. ("Hutton | james," 2003).
For this theory about the earth, he was dubbed the name "Founder of Modern Geology". -
Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon dies
He died in Paris, France. ("Georges-louis leclerc, comte," 2013). -
James Hutton
He also questioned geological time. This related to him developing the Theory of Uniformitariaism through the examination of sandstones and the strata in cliffs. ("Hutton | james," 2003). -
Erasmus Darwin
He published a book "The Loves of the Plants" that elaborated on Carolus Linnaeus's taxanomic system. ("Erasmus Darwin," 2013). -
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
He began to take an interest to vertebraes as they were rapidly increasing in the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle. He learned, studied and classified them. ("Jean baptiste lamarck," 2001). -
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
He collaborated with Georges Baron Cuvier and created a taxanomic system that allowed them to separate animals into phylums.
("Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier
He studied marine invertebrates, particularly mollusks.
("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier
Joined with Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, a zoologist at the Museum of Natural History in Paris, and published a study on mammalian classification. ("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Erasmus Darwin
His book "The Laws of Organic Life" was praised by medical historians because of its classifying facts about animals, laws describing organic life, and cataloging diseases along with their treatments. ("Erasmus Darwin," 2013). -
James Hutton dies
He dies in Edinburgh, Scotland. ("Hutton | james," 2003). -
Erasmus Darwin
Darwin wrote a poem that is now called “The Temple of Nature.” Subtitled “The Origin of Society,” this writing brought together and expanded all his thoughts on evolution. The four-part poem illustrates Darwin’s view that though virture and reason should triumph, death and destruction are necessary to prevent explosive growths in the human population.
("Erasmus Darwin," 2013). -
Charles Lyell was born
He was born in Kinnordy, Forfarshire, Scotland.
("Charles lyell (1797-1875)," 2002). -
Thomas Robert Malthus
Malthus anonymously published an article on that argued that human hopes and development would eventually run out of resources. He believed that the human population would outgrow the production rate that resources are made. Thus, populations will continue to expand and only be limited by famine, war, and ill health. Malthus even believed that misery, and self rstraint alone could check the excessive growth. People referred to this as the "Malthusian theory".
("Thomas Robert Malthus," 2013). -
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Geoffroy joined Napoleon's scientific expedition of Egypt and managed to transport specimens he collected back to France.
("Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire," 2013). -
Mary Anning was born
She was born in Lyme Regis, England.
Due to her gender, Anning was never taken seriously as a female paleontologist and fossil collector. Thus, not a lot of information was known about her as her history is incomplete and contradictory.
But, she was famous for discovering:
- first specimen of Ichthyosaurus- first nearly complete Plesiosaurus (aquatic reptile)- Plesiosaurus macrocephalus (aquatic reptile)- first British Pterodactylus macronyx (flying reptile)
(Maisel & Smart, 1997). -
Erasmus Darwin
In his book "Phytologia", he recommended the use of chemical fertilizers and other innovations for ripening seeds, enlarging fruit, and improving timber characteristics.
("Erasmus Darwin," 2013). -
Erasmus Darwin dies
He dies from a sudden cardiac arrest in Breadsall Priory, Derby.
("Erasmus Darwin," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier
He created his principle the “Correlation of parts”. It suggested that every organ in the body were functionally related to one another and all its functions and structural characteristics resulted from its interaction with the environment. Cuvier also thought that the functions and habits of an animal ultimately determined its anatomy. ("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier
Cuvier did not think that animals were capable of evolution. As he examined them, he thought their anatomy and organs to be very complex and advanced. In his opinion, all n the body of an organism was perfect and well coordinated. He did not believe that it could survive significant change. ("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Charles Darwin was born
He was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. ("Charles darwin (1809 - 1882)," 2013) -
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck: Theories on Evolution
After publishing a series of books on the zoology of invertebraes and paleontology, his book "Philosophie zoologique" stated his theories on evolution. ("Jean baptiste lamarck," 2001). -
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck: Theories on Evolution contd.
He had two laws. The first law was that if an organ or strucutre of an organism is not used, then it would eventually disappear from the population. This was called "use and disuse." The second law stated that all traits were heritable. The combination of both these laws would result in a gradual change or evolution in the population of an organism as they become more adapted to their environments and physological needs.
("Jean baptiste lamarck," 2001). -
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck: Advancing Classifications
He separated the phylums: Crustacea, Arachnida, and Annelida from the "Insecta." He also further classified the molluscs by removing the tunicates and the barnacles from the phylum.
("Jean baptiste lamarck," 2001) -
Georges Baron Cuvier
Cuvier arranged animals into four distinct groups: Vertebrates, Mollusks, Articulates, and Radiates. His reason for this was that he believed that each animal had a special type of anatomical structure.
("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Mary Anning
She discovered the first specimen of the Ichthyosaurus.
(Maisel & Smart, 1997). -
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire: Three Principles
In his book "Philosophie anatomique, 2 vol.", his study of embryos led him to create three principles. His first principle, "The Law of Development", stated that organs cannot suddenly appear or disappear. His second principle, "The law of Compensation.", stated that an organ can grow disproportionately but only at the expense of another. His last princple, "Law of Relative Position", stated that the parts of all animals maintain the same positions relative to each other. -
Alfred Russel Wallace was born.
He was born in Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales.
("Alfred Russel Wallace," 2013). -
Mary Anning
She found the first nearly complete Plesiosaurus (aquatic reptile).
(Maisel & Smart, 1997). -
Thomas Robert Malthus dies
The cause of death was unspecified.
("Thomas Robert Malthus," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier: Fossils contd.
Cuvier provided the science of paleontology with a firm foundation because of his relations with rock strata and fossils, zoology classification, and his comparative and functional anatomy of animals. ("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier: Fossils
He constructed a variety of unknown fossils quadrupeds that included giant salamanders, flying reptiles, and extinct elephants. He bea to realize that these animals did not ressemble some of the modern day organisms. Thus, he created the concept of catastrophism. He believed that organisms changed over time because natural disasters would occur in certain area and destroy all iving species living on it. Only later on would the area be repopulated by neighbooring species. -
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck dies
He died in Paris, France. ("Jean baptiste lamarck," 2001). -
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire: Three Principles Contd.
He tried to apply his three principles to invertebrates but a major dispute arised with Cuvier, who had already arranged animals into four set groups. The two differed in views of evolution but Geoffroy's was what supported Charles Darwin's views and arguments.
("Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire," 2013). -
Charles Darwin
He joined the scientific expedition on the HMS Beagle. On the expedition, he read Charles Lyell's "Principles of Geology" and supported his argument when he saw the diversity of animals and geological features on his trip. When he came to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin noticed that each island had it's own form of finch. They were all closely related but differed in important way such as their beaks. ("Charles darwin (1809 - 1882)," 2013). -
Georges Baron Cuvier dies
He died in Paris, France. ("Georges, Baron Cuvier," 2013). -
Charles Lyell: Uniformitariaism
Lyell finally established the theory of Uniformitariaism in his 3 vol book "The Principles of Geology: Being an Attempt to Explain the Former Changes of the Earth's Surface, by Reference to Causes now in Operation". Expanding on James Hutton's original idea, he used a temple at Serapis as his frontispiece. In the past, the temple had been above sea level, then was partially submerged for a long period of time, and then again above sea level. Lyell noticed the time period differences and theorize -
Charles Lyell: Uniformitarianism contd.
Lyell noticed the time period differences and theorized that if geological changes must happen at a slow rate that remained constant. ("Charles lyell (1797-1875)," 2002). -
Charles Darwin
Influenced by the ideas of Malthus, Darwin proposed the theory of the process of natural selection. He thought that organisms that were best suited to their environment were most ikely to survive and reproduce, thus passing on their successful genes and characteristics to their offspring. Gradually, the population of species would change over time.
("Charles darwin (1809 - 1882)," 2013). -
Mary Anning
She won the respect of contemporary scientists and received an annuity from the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
(Maisel & Smart, 1997). -
Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire dies
He died in Paris, France. ("Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire," 2013). -
Mary Anning dies
She dies due to breast cancer in Lyme Regis, England.
(Maisel & Smart, 1997). -
Alfred Russel Wallace
Wallace travelled the Amazon River basin, collecting, mapping, drawing, and writing. He studied the languages and habits of the peoples he encountered, collected butterflies, other insects, and birds. He had hoped to find the orgin of the plant and animal species. -
Alfred Russel Wallace
Wallae used his writings to publish two books called "Palm Trees of the Amazon and Their Uses" and "Narrative of Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro" and a map of the Negro River. These won him recognition from the Royal Geographical Society and he was gladly funded for his next trip. ("Alfred Russel Wallace," 2013). -
Alfred Russel Wallace: The Malay Archipelago
Wallace travelled the Malay Archipelago for 8 years collecting biological specimens. He wrote numerous articles about his thoughts. One of his articles discussed the origin of new species. He believed that new species rose and flourished due to the progression and diversity of varieties. ("Alfred Russel Wallace," 2013). -
Alfred Russel Wallace: The Malay Archipelago contd.
He sent his article to Charles Darwin and together, they published an article entitled “On the Tendency of Species to Form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection".
Wallace’s research also provided important evidence for his evolutionary theories and led him to come up with "Wallace’s Line", the boundary that separates the fauna of Australia from that of Asia. ("Alfred Russel Wallace," 2013). -
Charles Darwin: Breakthrough on Natural Selction
After working for 20 years on his theory of natural selection, he finally made a breakthrough with Russel Wallace and published a book called "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection". His book was viewed to be controversial by some people because in it, he suggested that man and apes had a common ancestor and that man was just another animal. ("Charles darwin (1809 - 1882)," 2013). -
Charles Lyell dies
He dies in London, England. ("Charles lyell (1797-1875)," 2002). -
Alfred Russel Wallace: Book
Wallace's highly famous two volume book, "Geographical Distribution of Animals", became a standard reference in zoology because it contained the knowledge about the distribution and dispersal of living and extinct animals in an evolutionary view.
("Alfred Russel Wallace," 2013). -
Charles Darwin dies
He died in the Down House. ("Charles darwin (1809 - 1882)," 2013). -
Theodosius Dobzhansky was born
He was born in Nemyriv, Russia. (Scoville, 2008) -
Alfred Russel Wallace dies
He died in Broadstone, England. ("Alfred Russel Wallace," 2013). -
Theodosius Dobzhansky
He studied fruit flies in "population cages" and related the changes that he saw to the Theory of Evolution and Charles Darwin's concept of Natural Selection. (Scoville, 2008). -
Theodosius Dobzhansky
Dobzhansky published his final book Genetics and the Evolutionary Process. With contributions from two other scientists, he discussed the Modern Synthesis of the Theory of Evolution. His contribution to the theory was the idea that species change over a long period of time and many different variations can appear whenever in a population. Because he had studied fruit flies all throughout his career, he saw this frequently.
(Scoville, 2008). -
Theodosius Dobzhansky
Dobzhansky pulished his famous book, "Genetics and the Origin of Species". It was the first book relating to Darwin's concept of genetics.
Dobzhansky also changed the meaning of the term "evolution" to "a change in the frequency of an allele within a gene pool". This definition followed Darwin's Natural Selection concept as he said that it was driven by mutations in a species' DNA over time.
(Scoville, 2008). -
Lynn Margulis
She was born in Chicago, USA. (Lynn Margulis, 2013). -
Stephen Jay Gould was born.
He was born in North America. ("S.j.g archive: Biography," 2002). -
Philip J. Currie was born.
He was born in Brampton, Ontario. (Acorn, 2012). -
Lynn Margulis
Her book "Origin of Eukaryotic Cells", focused on symbiosis. Margulis suggested that the mitochondria and chloroplasts, two major organelles of eukaryotic cells, were once free-living bacterial species. Thus, the endosymbiosis theory was created.
Margulis continued then continued with her theory and suggested that eukaryotic cilia were originally spirochetes and that cytoplasm was evolved from a symbiotic relationship between eubacteria and archaebacteria. (Lynn Margulis, 2008). -
Lynn Margulis
Margulis and a colleague, James Lovelock, came up with the Gaia Hypothesis. It proposed that the Earth can be a single self-regulating organism. (Lynn Margulis, 2008). -
Stephen Jay Gould: Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium
Gould and his colleague, Niles Eldredge, developed a theory called the "Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium." The theory states that evolutionary change can occur rapidly, and alternate with longer periods of evolutionary stability. In other words, Gould suggested that in evolution, species were just becoming more complex and smart. ("S.j.g archive: Biography," 2002). -
Theodosius Dobzhansky dies
He died from leukemia. -
Philip J. Currie
Currie helped describe two of the first dinosaur specimens from the lagerstätten of the Liaoning province in China: Protarchaeopteryx and Caudipteryx for the China-Canadian Dinosaur Project. (Acorn, 2012). -
Philip J. Currie
Currie discovered the genera Troödon and Stenonychosaurus. The similarities between the troödonts and birds greatly supported the theory that birds were descendants from dinosaurs. (Acorn, 2012). -
Philip J. Currie
Currie teamed up with Microsoft's Chief Technical Officer Nathan Myhrvold to create a computer model that demonstrated that diplodocids could snap their tails like whips and create small sonic booms. (Acorn, 2012). -
Stephen Jay Gould dies
He died from cancer in SoHo, New York.
("S.j.g archive: Biography," 2002). -
Lynn Margulis dies
She dies in Amherst, Massachusetts. (Lynn Margulis, 2008).