It's not accurate to say that a single scientist "put forward" the theory that humans evolved from apes. It was a gradual process with contributions from many individuals.

Here's a breakdown:

* Charles Darwin: While not the first to suggest the idea of evolution, Darwin's theory of natural selection in his book "On the Origin of Species" (1859) provided the most compelling evidence for the process of evolution. He argued that humans shared a common ancestor with apes, but didn't specifically state that we evolved *from* them.

* Thomas Henry Huxley: Known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his vocal defense of Darwin's ideas, Huxley was a strong proponent of human evolution. He presented compelling anatomical evidence suggesting a close relationship between humans and apes, solidifying the notion of shared ancestry.

* Ernst Haeckel: A German biologist, Haeckel further developed the idea of human evolution, emphasizing the connection between humans and apes. He also popularized the term "anthropoid apes" to describe our closest primate relatives.

Therefore, it's more accurate to say that Darwin, Huxley, and Haeckel, along with many other scientists, contributed to the development and acceptance of the theory of human evolution from a common ancestor with apes.