Georges Leopold Chretien Frederic Dagobert Baron Cuvier French anatomist th century Cuvier was a founder of comparative anatomy and father of paleontology He expanded the Linnaeus system of classification grouping related classes into phyla Cuvier opposed theories of evolution and Lamarcks theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics Transformism proposing instead a catastrophist theory of new creation of life after periodic global disasters Obverse of a commemorative medal
