While Lamarck was a pioneer in the field of evolution, he is not considered one of the first scientists to recognize that living things change over time. That recognition goes back much further, to the ancient Greek philosophers like Anaximander and Empedocles.

Lamarck's primary contribution was his theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which proposed that traits developed during an organism's lifetime could be passed on to its offspring. This theory has been largely discredited, but it played a significant role in the development of evolutionary thought.

Here's why the statement is false:

* Ancient Philosophers: Pre-dating Lamarck, philosophers like Anaximander proposed that life arose from simpler forms and evolved over time.

* Early Naturalists: Naturalists like Aristotle (384-322 BC) made observations of biological diversity and recognized patterns of change in living things.

* Darwin's Influence: While Lamarck's ideas were important, Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection is generally considered the cornerstone of modern evolutionary theory.

Therefore, while Lamarck was a significant figure in the history of evolution, he was not the first to recognize the change in living things over time.