jan 1, 1809 - Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck

Description:

First evolutionist to publicly state his ideas about the processes leading to biological change, although later on, found out to be incorrect.
Believed that evolution was mostly due to the inheritance of acquired characteristics as creatures adapt to their environment. He also believed that evolution occurred when an organism uses a body part in a way that is altered during its lifetime, resulting in a change that is inherited by offspring.
He believed that creatures could grow new organs/change the function of the old ones as a result of their use/disuse.
His theories were important because they introduced the role of environment in evolutionary change, although he did not invent the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics.