Final answer:
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift in 1915, suggesting all continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea. His work was initially rejected due to the lack of a mechanism, but the later understanding of plate tectonics validated his hypothesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alfred Wegener was a visionary scientist who, in 1910, first conceived the idea of continental drift after noting the congruent shapes of the continents on a world map. This idea was formally presented in 1915, backed by evidence such as the jigsaw puzzle fit of continents, matching fossils on separate continents, similar mountain ranges across oceans, and paleoclimate data suggesting past continental positions near the poles or equator.
Wegener’s theory hypothesized that all continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea. Despite presenting convincing evidence, his theory was initially rejected due to the lack of a mechanism explaining how continents could move. It wasn’t until developments in geology, oceanography, and geophysics throughout the mid-20th century that the concept of plate tectonics provided the necessary explanation, affirming Wegener's revolutionary hypothesis.