Georges-Louis Leclerc , Comte de Buffon ( 7 September 1707 â `` 16 April 1788 ) , usually called Buffon , was a French naturalist . He was also a mathematician , cosmologist and encyclopedic author . Georges-Louis Leclerc , Comte de Buffon ( 7 September 1707 â `` 16 April 1788 ) was a French naturalist , mathematician , cosmologist , and encyclopedic author .