The title of "first scientist to classify organisms" is a bit tricky because people have been trying to understand and categorize the living world for millennia.

However, Aristotle (384-322 BC) is often credited with being the first to develop a systematic classification system for organisms. He divided living things into two main groups: plants and animals. He further subdivided these groups based on their characteristics, such as their mode of reproduction, habitat, and physical features.

While his system wasn't perfect and relied on observation rather than experimentation, it laid the foundation for future taxonomic work.

It's worth noting that other civilizations also had their own classification systems. For example, the ancient Chinese developed a classification system based on the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth), while the ancient Egyptians classified plants based on their medicinal properties.

So, while Aristotle is recognized as the first to develop a formal system, it's important to remember that the history of biological classification spans a long period and involves many cultures.