The Resume

(August 1, 1744-December 18, 1829)
Born in Bazentin, France
Botanist and zoologist
Wrote 'Systeme des Animaux sans Vertebres' (1801), 'Philosophie Zoologique' (1809) and 'Historie Naturelle des Animaux sans Vertebres' (1822)
Developed a theory of evolution through inheritance of acquired characteristics
Idea frequently illustrated by giraffes' necks getting longer and stronger as they reach for leaves at the top of trees and passing the trait along to their offspring

Why he might be annoying:

It turns out, evolution doesn't actually work that way.
His theory inspired Trofim Lysenko.
His second wife was three decades younger than him.
He attacked the chemistry theories of Antoine Lavoisier, preferring the traditional four elements of earth, air, fire and water.
He died so heavily in debt that his family had to apply to the French Academy for financial assistance and his body was buried in a lime pit.

Why he might not be annoying:

As a 17-year-old soldier, he took command of his company after all the officers were killed in battle and directed a successful defense.
He named over 1500 new species and overhauled invertebrate taxonomy, separating the crustaceans and arachnids from the insects and the echinoderms and molluscs from the worms.
He provided one of the first theoretical frameworks for evolution.
Charles Darwin praised him for 'the eminent service of arousing attention to the probability of all change in the organic world, being the result of law, not miraculous interposition.'
He went blind late in life.
In a dick move, zoologist Baron Cuvier, who rejected evolution, used his eulogy of Lamarck to denigrate him.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 18th Century Scientists
• 19th Century Scientists
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 33]
• I am a Citizen of France
• I Died in Debt
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Profiles 30251-30500 (Ranked: 30426)
• Scientists
• Visually Impaired

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying