Who noted that the coastlines of the continents appeared to fit together in 1596?

Abraham Ortelius was a Flemish cartographer who recognized in 1596 that the coastlines of the continents seemed to fit together, suggesting that they might have been connected at some point in the past. This observation laid the groundwork for later theories about continental drift. Ortelius's insights were based on his meticulous study of maps and coastlines, noticing similarities and resemblances that hinted at a historical connection between different landmasses.

His work predated the formal theories of plate tectonics and continental drift that would be developed much later, notably by Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century. Despite the lack of a scientific framework at the time, Ortelius's observations have been recognized as precursors to the understanding of the dynamic nature of Earth’s continents. The other figures mentioned contributed significantly to geology and related fields, but Ortelius is specifically credited with this early observation of continental fit.