Jean-Louis Giraud Soulavie
Jean-Louis Giraud Soulavie (8 July 1752 – 11 March 1813) was a French clergyman, geologist, and writer. He was among the first to recognize ecological constraints in the distribution of species and noted altitudinal limits to some plants in 1784, drawing transverse distribution maps about 23 ahead of Humboldt and Bonpland. Soulavie was an active participant in the French Revolution, joining the Jacobin club, and survived despite being in favour of Robespierre. His geological studies suggested to him that the earth was several million years old but on orders from the church, he eschewed geology. Life and work Born in Ardèche, France, he began his career at the Saint-Nicolas college and the Saint-Esprit seminary being ordained a priest in 1776. He initially served as vicar in Antraigues and moved around. Despite his ecclesiastical office, he spent much of his time studying the geology of his home in Southern France until he moved to Paris in 1778. He was elected as a memb ...
[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]