Books by Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet de Lamarck

In 1793, French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) became professor of invertebrate zoology at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. He set about the huge task of classifying this neglected group of organisms. Published between 1815 and 1822, this groundbreaking seven-volume work laid the foundations for future invertebrate study.

In this two-volume work of 1809, the great French zoologist Lamarck (1744-1829) outlines his theory that under the pressure of different external circumstances, species can develop variations, and that new species and genera can eventually evolve as a result. His theory of 'soft inheritance' greatly influenced Charles Darwin.