1-153-698 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

George-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, 18th century French naturalist, c1890. Buffon (1707-1778) being waited on by his trained chimpanzee. Author of the encyclopedic Histoire Naturelle, Buffon proposed that the Earth existed before 4004 BC, the then generally accepted date of its creation. His work was a precursor of the theory of evolution. French trade card.