Alcide d'Orbigny, French zoologist and paleontologist (b. 1802)
Alcide Charles Victor Marie Dessalines d'Orbigny (6 September 1802 – 30 June 1857) was a French naturalist who made major contributions in many areas, including zoology (including malacology), palaeontology, geology, archaeology and anthropology.
D'Orbigny was born in Couëron (Loire-Atlantique), the son of a ship's physician and amateur naturalist. The family moved to La Rochelle in 1820, where his interest in natural history was developed while studying the marine fauna and especially the microscopic creatures that he named "foraminiferans".
In Paris he became a disciple of the geologist Pierre Louis Antoine Cordier (1777–1861) and Georges Cuvier. All his life, he would follow the theory of Cuvier and stay opposed to Lamarckism.
1857Jun, 30
Alcide d'Orbigny
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Events on 1857
- 23Mar
Elevator
Elisha Otis's first elevator is installed at 488 Broadway New York City. - 29Mar
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Sepoy Mangal Pandey of the 34th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry mutinies against the East India Company's rule in India and inspires the protracted Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny. - 18Apr
Allan Kardec
"The Spirits Book" by Allan Kardec is published, marking the birth of Spiritualism in France. - 6May
War of Independence of 1857
The British East India Company disbands the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry whose sepoy Mangal Pandey had earlier revolted against the British and is considered to be the First Martyr in the War of Indian Independence. - 1Jun
Les Fleurs du mal
Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal is published.