Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788), was a French naturalist, mathematician, and cosmologist. He is best known for his work, "Histoire Naturelle", which aimed to systematically describe the natural world. Buffon proposed that species could change over time, laying early groundwork for the theory of evolution. Buffon also contributed to various scientific fields, including geology and biology. He emphasized the importance of observation and experimentation in understanding nature. His ideas influenced later scientists, including Charles Darwin, and helped shape modern biology and ecology. Buffon's legacy remains significant in the history of science.