Who developed the theory evolution from ape to man?

It's important to understand that the idea of human evolution from ape-like ancestors wasn't developed by a single person. It's the culmination of work by many scientists over centuries.

Here's a breakdown of key figures and their contributions:

* Charles Darwin: While not the first to propose the idea of evolution, Darwin's theory of natural selection, outlined in his book *On the Origin of Species* (1859), provided a powerful mechanism for how evolution could occur. He didn't specifically focus on human evolution, but his ideas laid the groundwork.

* Thomas Henry Huxley: Known as "Darwin's bulldog," Huxley was a staunch advocate for Darwin's theory and applied it to human evolution. In his 1863 book *Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature*, he argued that humans shared a common ancestor with apes.

* Ernst Haeckel: This German biologist was a strong proponent of Darwin's ideas and contributed significantly to the understanding of human evolution. He proposed the "biogenetic law" which suggested that ontogeny (development of an individual) recapitulates phylogeny (evolutionary history).

* Other Pioneers: Numerous other scientists like Alfred Russel Wallace, Raymond Dart, and Louis Leakey contributed to the understanding of human evolution through their fossil discoveries, anatomical studies, and research on primate behavior.

It's also crucial to note that the term "ape to man" is a simplification. Human evolution is not a linear progression from ape to human. Instead, it's a branching tree of related species, with humans sharing a common ancestor with modern apes.

Therefore, attributing the "theory of evolution from ape to man" to a single person would be inaccurate and misleading. It's the result of the collective work and discoveries of countless scientists over many years.