>>12803440Darwin's idea simply fit in better with the prevailing zeitgeist at that time. The idea that only the fittest animals would survive is eerily similar to contemporary economic ideas. It also neatly fit in with other scientific practices like zoology and taxonomy. His idea was also convenient since it provided a scientific explanation as to why the British empire dominated the world. The British being simply fitter than the other people. Darwin was also born into an influential family including ties to the government.
Lamarck on the other side did not belong to any influential families. He came up with his theory during the Napoleonic wars. France actually suffered considerably from these wars, losing a lot of influence during the first half of the 19th century also allowing Prussia to unify Germany. Because of the Napoleonic wars, which also includes trade wars and tensions between France and Britain, French ideas were not readily picked up in England. There were also other conceptual and theoretical problems with Lamarckism. It wasn't really compatible with the way people imagined things to be.
