1656-1738

French natural philosopher whose controversial book of evolutionary speculations, entitled Telliamed: Of Discourses Between an Indian Philosopher and a French Missionary on the Diminution of the Sea, the Formation of the Earth, the Origin of Men and Animals, etc., was published posthumously (1748). De Maillet, a diplomat and traveler, disguised his unorthodox ideas about evolution by ascribing them to an exotic sage named Telliamed ("de Maillet" spelled backwards). His book presents theories on cosmic and biological evolution in the form of a dialogue between Telliamed and a French missionary.