- English naturalist and geologist, widely known for his contributions to the science of evolution.
- Published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, introducing his theory of evolution by means of natural selection.
2. Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913):
- Welsh naturalist and explorer who co-developed the theory of evolution through natural selection simultaneously with Darwin.
- Wallace's 1858 essay, sent to Darwin, prompted Darwin to publish his own work.
3. Thomas Malthus (1766-1834):
- English economist and demographer whose ideas influenced Darwin's theory.
- Malthus's theory of population growth and resource scarcity provided a framework for understanding the struggle for existence and the selective pressures that drive evolution.
4. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829):
- French naturalist and biologist who proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics.
- Lamarck's ideas, while ultimately proven incorrect, introduced the concept of evolutionary adaptation and paved the way for Darwin's theory.
5. Gregor Mendel (1822-1884):
- Austrian monk and scientist who discovered the fundamental laws of heredity through his experiments on pea plants.
- Mendel's principles provided the genetic basis for understanding the inheritance of traits and their variations within populations.
6. Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919):
- German biologist and philosopher who coined the term "ecology" and was one of the most prominent proponents of Darwin's theory.
- Haeckel popularized the concept of the "tree of life" depicting evolutionary relationships among species.
7. Richard Dawkins (1941-present):
- English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and science writer who coined the term "selfish gene."
- Dawkins popularized the concept of evolution as driven by the competition between genes for replication, highlighting the role of natural selection in shaping species.