About Frédéric Gérard
Lived 1806 – 1857 (aged 50). Frédéric Gérard was a French botanist.
Frédéric Gérard (1806–1857) was a French botanist and early evolutionary thinker.
Gérard was influenced by the ideas of Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. He was editor in chief of Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle, which he contributed to. Science historian Goulven Laurent argued that Gérard was the first to propose a clear scientific theory of evolution (1844-1845), and that he used the term "evolution" rather than transformism. By evolution, Gérard was referring to transformation of species over time by direct pressure from a changing environment. Charles Darwin had read an extract "Geographie zoologique" from this work in 1845.
Selected publications
De la description en histoire naturelle (1844) Extraits du Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle (1845)
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Important facts
People in Frédéric Gérard's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Frédéric Gérard?
French botanist (1806-1857)
When was Frédéric Gérard born?
Frédéric Gérard was born on 21 December 1806 in former 8th arrondissement of Paris.
When did Frédéric Gérard die?
Frédéric Gérard died on 7 March 1857 in former 10th arrondissement of Paris.
What was Frédéric Gérard's occupation?
Frédéric Gérard was a botanist.
What nationality was Frédéric Gérard?
Frédéric Gérard was French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Frédéric Gérard. https://biography.guide/frederic-gerard/
MLA: "Frédéric Gérard." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/frederic-gerard/.
Chicago: "Frédéric Gérard." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/frederic-gerard/.
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