Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon

Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon (1707-1788), French naturalist, author of one of the earliest accounts of the global history of biology and geology that was not based on the Bible.

Buffon was born to an aristocratic family in Montbard. He studied law in Dijon, and moved to Angers in 1728 to study medicine, botany, and mathematics. Late in 1730, a duel forced Buffon to leave Angers, and he spent two years traveling in southern France and Italy.

Buffon's scientific career began in 1732, when he returned to France and associated with French intellectuals, aided in large part by his aristocratic connections and his inheritance. He was admitted to the Académie Royale des Science in 1734 and continued his eclectic scientific pursuits until he was appointed intendant (keeper) at the Jardin du Roi (King's Garden) in 1740. From this date until his death, Buffon divided his time between administering the family estate and building the collections in the garden, which he doubled in size during his career.

Buffon's major work was Histoire naturelle (Natural History), a 36-volume production published between 1749 and 1789. In it, Buffon provided the first naturalistic account of the history of the earth, including a complete description of its mineralogical, botanical, and zoological productions. Using the idea of natural forces from English physicist Sir Isaac Newton, Buffon used only empirical causes to explain natural phenomena. A gifted stylist, Buffon's works became some of the most well-known literary achievements from the Age of Enlightenment. His standing within the French intellectual and political community was underscored by Louis XV, who made him Comte de Buffon in 1773.