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    This influential naturalist of high social status had to drop out of university owing to his involvement in a then-common type of student combat; but he eventually had a mathematical problem named after him and a sewing implement. He was also credited by a famous and continually-controversial 19th-century scientist with being the first "modern" figure to suggest the principles of a certain theory. Who was he?

    Question #76005. Asked by lanfranco. (Feb 17 07 5:24 PM)


    tragic_flawed

    		Alfred Wallace

    Feb 17 07, 5:33 PM
    lanfranco

    		No, afraid not. Think earlier and a different nationality.

    Though you're sort of on the right track, tf.

    Feb 17 07, 6:17 PM
    peasypod

    		Well, this just screams 'Buffon's Needle' to me.

    Georges-Louis Leclerc, aka, 'Comte de Buffon' left university because of a duel, by the way.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffon%27s_needle

    Feb 17 07, 6:32 PM
    lanfranco

    		That's the guy, peasy. In some views, though not all, he foreshadowed the theory of natural selection.

    I'm not much in the sewing department, but I'll award you a silver needle. Or would you rather have a thimble?

    Feb 17 07, 6:58 PM
    peasypod

    		I can't sew a button on, so either would be useless, but I do use sewing needles to create masterpieces with my latte art, so, I'll go for the needle, thenkyew. ;)

    Feb 17 07, 8:40 PM

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