Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, Étienne

zoologist and biologist, born at Étampes; he was educated for the Church, but while studying theology at Paris his love for natural science was awakened, and the study of it henceforth became the ruling pa ion of his life; was made profe or of Zoology in the Museum of Natural History in Paris; accompanied Napoleon to Egypt as a member of the scientific commi ion, and returned with rich collections, while his labours were rewarded by his election to the Academy of Sciences; a scientific mi ion to Portugal in 1808 next engaged him, and a year later he was nominated to the chair of Zoology in the Faculty of Sciences at Paris; the main object of his scientific writing was to establish, in opposition to the theories of his friend Cuvier, his conception of a grand unity of plan pervading the whole organic kingdom (1772-1844).